Ukraine: US Lies, Provocation, Broken Promises, Fake News

[Anthea]

Donbass sentences Kiev troops

The Ukranian soldiers have been found guilty of charges including "cruel treatment of the civilian population" and "attempted murder."

The People's Republics of the Donbass have handed down harsh prison sentences to five Ukrainian soldiers, according to a report from Russia's Investigative Committee on Monday.

The statement from the Investigative Committee indicated that Andrey Klementovich, Artur Sivitsky, and Ivan Melnikovich were each sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment. The committee presented visuals of the three individuals handcuffed within a courtroom's defendant cage.

According to the Investigative Committee, these soldiers were found guilty of charges including "cruel treatment of the civilian population" and "attempted murder."

The court's assertion was that these three soldiers were active in the conflict in Mariupol, a city that Russia took control of in May 2022. They were also accused of impeding civilians from utilizing a humanitarian corridor to leave the city.

In the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk, serviceman Bogdan Smaga received a 17-year prison sentence for inflicting injuries on civilians, as per the same source.

Another Ukrainian soldier, Igor Lemeshev, was subjected to a 20-year prison term for his involvement in the shelling of a residential area, resulting in the death of a civilian.

This is happening a few days after Ukrainian forces suffered around 400 casualties, and 16 military vehicles were put out of service in the Donetsk region in the past 24 hours, as per the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Concurrently, Russian forces thwarted five Ukrainian offensives in the region and also repelled four attacks in the Kupyansk region and another in South Donetsk.

In Kupyansk, Ukraine lost over 130 soldiers while another 40 were eliminated near the village of Krasnyi Lyman as the Ukrainian armed forces suffered 190 casualties in Zaporozhye.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... es-against

[Anthea]

Ukrainian draft dodgers

Ukraine finds itself in a continuous struggle to replace the significant number of soldiers who have been killed or injured in the conflict, as per a new BBC report

Ukraine is facing challenges in bolstering its troop numbers due to continuous high casualties in its conflict with Russia and the reluctance of the population to replace those who can no longer serve, as reported by the BBC.

The country has a constant need to replace the large number of soldiers killed or injured in the conflict, and many Ukrainian troops are fatigued after 18 months of fighting against Moscow.

The BBC revealed that Ukrainians have formed large chat groups on social media to share strategies for avoiding conscription, including providing information on draft patrol officers' routes through platforms like Telegram. These groups exist across Ukraine, with some exceeding 100,000 members.

Numerous individuals have already left Ukraine in an attempt to evade the draft, often bribing officials, including recruitment officers, to facilitate their exit from the country. In response to the corruption scandals, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky recently allegedly dismissed all regional military officials in charge of conscription. He disclosed that there had been 112 criminal cases against territorial draft center officials.

Ukrainian defense authorities have condemned the alleged misconduct by those involved in the draft process as disgraceful and unacceptable. Zelensky announced that combat veterans unfit for active duty would replace the discharged personnel, claiming that they could be trusted.

The recruitment campaign officers have been accused of using increasingly forceful methods. Individuals are said to have been summoned to recruitment centers for registration, only to be apprehended on the spot, preventing their return home. These officials are also accused of employing harsh and intimidating tactics. Fresh recruits reportedly find themselves on the front lines with just one month of training.

The report emerges as Kiev struggles with a much-anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces initiated in early June. According to Moscow, Ukrainian troops have made little substantial progress, often stalling at the initial line of Russian defenses.

The Russian Defense Ministry has lately estimated that Ukraine has lost about 43,000 soldiers and approximately 5,000 pieces of heavy equipment since the operation's commencement.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated at the Moscow Conference on International Security that Western weaponry and tactics have not provided any advantage to Kiev's troops. Additionally, Western military equipment has demonstrated vulnerability to Russian weapons.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... -troop-sho

[Anthea]

Ukraine nothing to do with crash

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes nuances during a press brief which he claims serves to confirm that Ukraine is not involved in the killing of PMC Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin

"Everyone understands who is involved," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, on Thursday, as he alleged that Kiev had nothing to do with the accident in Russia's Tver area of a jet carrying Wagner Group private military company (PMC) head Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Zelensky told reporters "We have nothing to do with this. Everyone understands who is involved," according to UNIAN news agency.

Late last night, on Wednesday, the Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsia confirmed Prigozhin was aboard the private jet that crashed that evening.

Prigozhin's name was among the Embraer-135 (EBM-135BJ) passengers, in addition to Proposition Sergey, Makaryan Evgeniy, Totmin Aleksandr, Chekalov Valeriy, Utkin Dmitriy, and Matuseev Nikolay.

"Crew members: commander [pilot] Levshin Aleksei, second pilot Karimov Rustam, and flight attendant Raspopova Kristina," were also on board the flight, the agency detailed on Telegram.

Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed that a private plane on its way from Moscow to St. Petersburg crashed in the Tver Region on Wednesday, announcing that the incident killed all 10 people aboard.

In turn, the US President has expressed he was "not sure" what caused the crash but revealed he was "not surprised" by the news.

He steered clear of pointing any fingers at Russian President Vladimir Putin when asked and carefully responded that he did not have enough facts to answer.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... zhins-deat

[Anthea]

UN concerned about Ukrainain attacks

Last month, Ukraine was accused of war crimes after the shelling of the city of Gorlovka left a firefighter dead

According to the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations is worried about Ukrainian strikes on communities deep into Russia and closing its border with Ukraine

Last August, Amnesty International published a statement in which it accused the Ukrainian military of going against international humanitarian law protocol of international armed conflict, due to their bases being located in civilian-dense areas and institutions like schools and hospitals.

During a UN Security Council meeting, DiCarlo expressed concern regarding the "possible impact on civilians of the shelling of Russian border communities and drone attacks deep inside Russia, including Moscow."

The Secretary-General reaffirmed that civilian attacks were deemed unlawful and indefensible under international law.

Last month, Ukraine was accused of war crimes after the shelling of the city of Gorlovka left a firefighter dead.

Also last month, Ukraine targeted the border town of Kurchatov, which has a nuclear power plant similar to Chernobyl, prompting Moscow to accuse the collective West of "nuclear terrorism."

A residential building was hit in the town after the attack, with the governor of the Russian Kursk region announcing at the time that "fortunately, none of the residents were injured."

Today, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Russia successfully thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack targeting the Bryansk and Kaluga regions. According to the statement, Russia destroyed three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the overnight attack.

"This night, an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks by aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles was thwarted," the Russian ministry said, adding that "two UAVs were destroyed by air defense systems over the territory of the Bryansk Region. Another Ukrainian drone was detected and destroyed by air defense systems above the Kaluga Region."

This type of attack is not new as two Ukrainian drones near Crimea were intercepted by the Russian Defense via electronic warfare, downing them into the water over the Black Sea 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) northwest of the Crimean peninsula, according to the Russian Defense Ministry released earlier on Tuesday.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... rder-towns

[Anthea]

Journalists imprisoned tortured killed

Journalist Eva Bartlett joins Redacted for an eye opening interview about what's actually been happening in Ukraine for the last decade. The western media refuses to cover the truth of what's really going on

phpBB [video]

Direct Link Should Video Not Work:

https://youtu.be/ghBEm2HO1h4?feature=shared

[Anthea]

Click Image to Enlarge:


Zelensky may replace Defense Minister

The Ukrainian Defense Minister told reporters that Zelensky "knows exactly that I was not asking for this job."

President Volodymyr Zelensky's anti-corruption campaign has fueled rumors that he may fire Ukraine's defense minister following allegations of misconduct in the procurement of military supplies.

Back in January, Zelensky announced a substantial government overhaul. Simultaneously, at least nine top civil servants were fired for corruption, including four deputy ministers and five regional governors, while numerous more high-ranking officials, including Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symonenko and Deputy Head of Zelensky's office Kyrylo Tymoshenko, resigned.

Corruption swept Ukraine long before the beginning of the war. Today, corruption plagues Kiev especially as hundreds of millions of dollars in weapons and aid stream into the country, and the cost of reconstruction activities is anticipated to be in the billions.

Last month the US hinted that economic aid provided to Kiev is at risk.

Famed US investigative journalist and Pulitzer award winner Seymour Hersh said in April that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had embezzled hundreds of millions of dollars from the United States that Washington had allocated to purchase fuel.

The Ukrayinska Pravda daily reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources, that the Ukrainian Defense Minister Minister might be removed as soon as next week after anti-corruption groups and the media claimed that under his supervision, the ministry overpaid for food and clothing. This also corresponds with remarks made by a politician that Reznikov might be appointed as Kiev's ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Reznikov, who stated earlier this month that he was tired of his work, has denied the prior claims. On Thursday, his spokesperson declined to comment on the rumors. On Monday, Reznikov stated that the president will determine who would lead the Defense Ministry.

He told reporters that Zelensky "knows exactly that I was not asking for this job," explaining that "He knows exactly what I did and how much, and if he invites me to any other project, I will happily agree.”

In early August, Zelensky sacked officials in charge of military conscription in each area of the nation on Friday, alleging corruption charges that might amount to treason.

Ukraine has been increasing troop conscription efforts in order to combat Russia in a painfully slow-moving counteroffensive.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... -next-week

[Anthea]

Aid to Kiev tops $100bln

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announces that Western military aid to Ukraine, received since February 2022, has reached a staggering $100 billion, with over $50 billion of that aid coming from the United States alone

Ukraine's Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, revealed that Western allies have provided approximately $100 billion worth of military aid since the Ukraine war began in February 2022.

He emphasized that over $50 billion of these supplies came from the United States alone. Reznikov explained that the aid included weaponry, equipment, ammunition, and more.

While Ukraine allocated some of its state budget for the procurement of military assets, a significant portion was dedicated to compensating and supporting Ukrainian troops.

Western support for Ukraine started with lighter arms and training but has expanded to include heavier weaponry, with Ukraine's request for fighter jets being a recent development. Russia has consistently opposed additional arms deliveries to Ukraine.

US weapons to Ukraine on black market

Last month, former senior Pentagon Advisor Col. Douglas Macgregor pointed out the possibility of US-supplied weapons to Ukraine ending up on the black market.

"We're sending a billion dollars worth of equipment and much of it disappears perhaps on the black market and the cash never gets where it's supposed to go! What's happening right now demands our attention and understanding," Colonel Douglas Macgregor said in a post on X.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Western countries have been steadily offering military aid to Ukraine, evolving from artillery munitions and training in 2022 to more substantial weaponry, including tanks, throughout 2023. As Ukraine's aspirations expand, with recent calls for fighter jets, the geopolitical landscape becomes increasingly complex.

Back in July, former senior Pentagon advisor Karen Kwiatkowski told Sputnik that Ukraine is selling weapons it acquired from the West on the black market due to the Kiev forces' limited ability to use them because of their lack of training, logistical challenges, and the diminishing size of the Ukrainian armed forces.

Similarly, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu previously said the arms supplied by the West to Ukraine were ending up on the black market and spreading across West Asia.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... 00bln-half

[Anthea]

US refuses cluster bomb info

Even if Washington provided answers to these questions, the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine would still be "unacceptable," a HRW official said

Human Rights Watch (HRW) arms advocacy director Mary Wareham told RIA Novosti on Wednesday that the US has not yet disclosed the types of cluster munitions it has sent to Ukraine or the conditions under which they were transferred.

"We still do not have complete information about the exact types of cluster munitions that the US is transferring. That matters, because from that you can tell what the dud rate is, how many are likely to fail," the HRW arms advocacy director said.

"We don't know the quantity that has been transferred, the period of time in which they were being transferred, when will the transfers end, or how are they transferred to Ukraine. Were they taken from military bases on the soil of a European country or did they go through the airspace over the territory of a country that has joined the treaty?" Wareham said, referring to the 1997 convention banning anti-personnel mines.

The official added that even if Washington provided answers to these questions, the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine would still be "unacceptable" because it puts civilian lives at risk.

"The vast majority of victims of cluster munitions are civilians and, unfortunately, children account for 70% of the victims from the remnants of cluster munitions. Not so much from the attacks, that's harder for us to document ... We completely opposed the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine," Wareham said.

In July, the Biden administration's first military assistance package for Ukraine included cluster munitions, a controversial weapon that has been criticized by human rights activists and opposed by some US lawmakers.

Cluster munitions are indiscriminate weapons that do not have self-destruct devices. This means that up to 14% of the submunitions in a cluster munition can fail to explode on impact, posing a threat to civilians for years after the conflict has ended.

Ukraine became a party to the Ottawa Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2005, which prohibits the use, production, transfer, stockpiling, and even development of these indiscriminate weapons.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... ns-sent-to

[Anthea]

How to end the fighting:

Stop attacking the Donbass - give it it's legal rights

End the use of Nazis battalions in the Kiev army - the battalions US themselves once banned

Remove the dozens of US biolabs - the labs US lied about having

After illegal coup in 2014 US backed government banned the Russian language, culture and literature - and renamed many roads after Nazis

Donbass has been under attack since since the coup

The Minsk agreement was signed as a ceasefire and to give the Donbass autonomy

But still the Kiev government continued to bomb the Donbass

The UNSC accepted the Minsk agreement into INTERNATIONAL LAW

But still the Kiev government continued to bomb the Donbass

After being under attack since 2014 and failing to obtain international support, Donbass appealed to Russia for help

Following the referenda, and after the overwhelming majority of people voted in favor of reunification with Russia, President Vladimir Putin gave a speech in which he reflected on the recent history of the region and how Russia was broken apart:

The collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was a decision taken by partisan leaders who did not take the opinion of the people into consideration before making their decision, Putin said.

The landmark address had been awaited since the results of the referenda of the liberated Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions' accession to Russia came out.

"Contrary to the direct will of the people, the [Soviet Union] was ruined, and the people were confronted with a fact. We cannot go back to the past. And Russia no longer needs it. But there is nothing stronger than the determination of millions of people who consider themselves part of Russia, whose ancestors lived in a single state for centuries," President Putin added.

"There is nothing stronger than the determination of these people to return to their true historical fatherland," the Russian leader underlined.

He announced that the people living in the DPR, LPR, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia "have become [Russian] citizens forever. I want people in Kiev and their real owners to listen to me; we call on Kiev to enter an immediate ceasefire to end the war they initiated back in 2014."

PS:
Remember that during WW2 the Kiev government supported the Nazis - and still celebrate Nazi holidays

The Donbass fought against the Nazis - there is a statue in support of Donbass victory over Nazis

[Anthea]

Zelensky's sponsorship fraud

The accused billionaire made entry into politics in 2014 after he became affiliated with the illegal Western-backed Maidan coup

Ukrainian authorities made accusations of money laundering and fraud against billionaire oligarch Igor Kolomoysky, the owner of a media holding, through which President Volodymyr Zelensky made his rise to fame as a comedian and later as a presidential candidate.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement on Saturday that Kolomoysky laundered, between 2013 and 2020, over 500 million in Ukrainian currency ($13.5 million) by "transferring it abroad, while using the infrastructure of banking institutions controlled by him," describing him as the "de facto owner of a large financial and industrial group."

The powerful businessman, who holds a Cypriot citizenship and an Israeli passport, was handed a "notice of suspicion" on charges of fraud and laundry of property obtained by criminal means.

Zelensky announced his presidential candidacy in 2019 through Kolomoysky-controlled TV channel 1+1, the same channel that aired the President's comedy show "Servant of the People" in 2015 and offered him a platform to promote his campaign.

But Zelensky has denied having personal ties to the businessman, describing their relationship as strictly professional.

"Unsurprisingly, many viewed Zelenskyy as Kolomoisky’s candidate," US-based think tank the Atlantic Council said in 2021.

The crackdown on Kolomoysky began earlier in February, when he became a suspect in an embezzlement case of 40 billion hryvnia ($1.1 billion), as well as tax evasion through his oil businesses.

His entry into politics started in 2014 after he became affiliated with the Western-backed colored revolution, known as the Maidan Coup, among other names.

Kolomoysky subsequently served as the governor of Ukraine's southeastern Dnepropetrovsk Region but faced dismissal when he initiated a campaign to privatize two state-owned energy companies.

Additionally, he was the owner of Ukraine's largest bank, PrivatBank, until the government nationalized it in 2016, citing allegations of large-scale fraud that posed a significant threat to the country's financial system, according to Kiev then.

In 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on the oligarch and his family members for his involvement "in corrupt acts that undermined rule of law and the Ukrainian public’s faith in their government’s democratic institutions."

Kolomoysky has denied Kiev's accusations.
(Criminals only confess on Perry Mason)

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... undering-f

[Anthea]

Germany's fertilizer from Russia

Russia has now moved from sixth to third place among Germany's largest fertilizer suppliers, both in terms of the total amount of fertilizer imported and the monetary value of the imports

Data from the German statistical office revealed on Wednesday that Germany's imports of Russian fertilizers increased 3.3-fold to a record $151.3 million in the first half of 2023.

German imports of fertilizers from Russia in the first six months of 2023 were $151.3 million, up from an average of $45.5 million in the previous five years. This is the highest figure since at least 2008 when Germany began publishing data on fertilizer imports.

The previous record of $105.2 million in fertilizer imports from Russia was set in 2016, with a record high of 395,000 tonnes.

This year, Germany's purchases of Russian fertilizers increased by 2.8 times to 361,500 tonnes, marking the second-largest amount of fertilizer imports from Russia ever recorded.

Russia has now moved from sixth to third place among Germany's largest fertilizer suppliers, both in terms of the total amount of fertilizer imported and the monetary value of the imports.

The share of fertilizer imports from Russia to Germany doubled in both monetary terms (to 14.6%) and absolute terms (to 16.5%).

Belgium and the Netherlands were the top two suppliers of fertilizers to Germany in the first six months of 2023. Belgium shipped 387,000 tonnes of fertilizers to Germany for $216 million, while the Netherlands sold 475,000 tonnes for $190 million.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/Eco ... d-1513m-in

[Anthea]

How US deceived Russia over NATO

On August 18th, the official Twitter account of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation published a slick animated video, seeking to “get [the] facts straight” on the “defensive alliance”, and dispel “false myths” about its nature and objectives, disseminated by Russia

Among those “myths” is the notion NATO promised Russia it would not expand after the Cold War. Of course, there is ample documentary evidence indicating that in the two years leading up to the USSR’s December 1991 dissolution, Mikhail Gorbachev and other high-ranking Soviet officials were repeatedly told precisely that by their US opposite numbers

This is well-known to the point of being uncontroversial, begging the obvious question of why the alliance maintains otherwise in the present.

Less understood is how NATO enlargement into the former Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union was achieved, in the face of significant Russian hostility, during the 1990s.

The sordid tale is nonetheless amply spelled out in a highly revealing tranche of documents released by the US National Security Archive. The files reveal how Russian President Boris Yeltsin was consistently manipulated by his US counterpart Bill Clinton on the question during the 1990s, while bold, false promises of a “strategic partnership” between the countries repeatedly came to nothing.

Take for instance the transcript of a cordial July 5th 1,994 telephone conversation between Clinton and Yeltsin. At the time, the US President was preparing to depart for soon-to-be NATO members Poland and the Baltics, before meeting with Yeltsin at the G7 summit in Italy.

Yeltsin urged Clinton to raise the plight of Russophones in Estonia and Latvia, as “a public statement…that the US will not support any infringement on the rights of the Russian-speaking people” would mean these countries “act differently.”

He noted Lithuania’s quick granting of citizenship to its Russian minority had prompted Moscow to withdraw its troops from Vilnius. The same could happen by August in Tallinn and Riga if assurances were made. Yeltsin also wished to discuss NATO expansion.

https://english.almayadeen.net/articles ... nlargement

A long document well worth reading

[Anthea]

Depleted uranium endangers generations

The Russian Embassy in the US warned on Wednesday that the US administration's decision to deliver depleted uranium shells to Ukraine puts in danger entire generations

It continued, "It is obvious that Washington, obsessed with the idea of inflicting a 'strategic defeat' on Russia, is ready to fight not only to the last Ukrainian but also to put an end to entire generations."

The Russian mission added that "the US is consciously going for the transfer of indiscriminate weapons."

"The rupture of a munition results in the formation of a moving radioactive cloud," the embassy indicated, explaining that "small particles of uranium settle in the respiratory tract, lungs, esophagus, accumulate in the kidneys and liver, cause malignant tumors," resulting in the malfunction of internal organs.

The statement recalled that "thousands of civilians suffered from oncology" in Iraq and the Balkans due to the "uranium footprint" of the US.

"By supplying the Ukrainian authorities with the said military products, the United States is engaged in self-deception while refusing to accept the failure of the so-called counter-offensive of the Ukrainian armed forces," the Embassy said, making it clear that "the course of the [Russian] special operation will not change," and the Russian military will continue to destroy the weapons delivered to Ukraine.

Elsewhere, the Russian Embassy in the US considered that by supplying depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, the US administration "exposes its true face: it is deeply indifferent to both the present of Ukraine and the future of the republic and its European neighbors."

On his part, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov described the deliveries of weapons with depleted uranium by the United States to Ukraine as a criminal act.

"This [supplies of weapons with depleted uranium] is not just an escalatory step, it is a reflection of Washington's outrageous disregard for the environmental consequences of using this kind of munitions in a war zone," Ryabkov told reporters in Bishkek on Thursday, adding that "in fact, this is a criminal act."

Earlier on Wednesday, the Pentagon announced a comprehensive security assistance package valued at up to $175 million for Ukraine, Reuters reported.

The package includes the provision of depleted uranium armor-piercing ammunition for Abrams tanks, marking the first time the United States has sent such controversial armor-piercing munitions to Kiev.

These ammunition rounds, renowned for their capability to neutralize armored targets, would constitute a crucial component of the impending military aid package destined for Ukraine.

Alongside the depleted uranium ammunition, the Pentagon's package includes a diverse array of military support, encompassing anti-armor systems, tactical air navigation systems, and additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... enerations

[Anthea]

Ukraine lost around 85%

A Ukrainian combat general says of each 100 individuals conscripted last year only 10-20 remain while others are either dead or disabled

Almost nine out of every ten Ukrainian draftees who enlisted in the army a year ago have either been killed or injured in combat, Ukrainian media reported on Friday citing a senior conscription officer in the Poltava Region.

Lt. Colonel Vitaly Berezhny, who is currently serving as the acting head of the territorial center for recruitment and social support, made this admission during a Poltava City Council meeting.

Sounding the alarm, Berezhny told meeting participants that "out of the 100 individuals who joined the units last fall, only 10-20 of them remain, the rest are dead, wounded or disabled.” Going from this statistic, he declared that the military is in urgent need of reinforcements.

He acknowledged that local authorities are facing significant challenges in their conscription efforts, having only achieved 13 percent of the mobilization plan. This places the Poltava at the bottom of the region's rankings.

To address the shortage of manpower, the officer proposed the “establish the presence of conscripts." He further stated that the region had intentions to establish a substantial mechanized brigade and appealed to local deputies to actively support this endeavor.

Following the start of the war with Russia in February 2022, Kiev implemented a general mobilization, barring most men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country. This measure was initially thought to suffice in meeting the country's military manpower needs.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov revealed last month that Kiev had not yet fully executed its existing mobilization plan, indicating that there was no necessity for another conscription effort.

Nevertheless, at the beginning of this month, a significant policy shift occurred when the Ukrainian Defense Ministry issued a decree allowing the conscription of individuals with severe medical conditions, including hepatitis, asymptomatic HIV, and clinically managed tuberculosis.

This unexpected change in approach signaled a transformation in Kiev's strategy for bolstering its military capabilities.

Simultaneously, the country's authorities initiated a comprehensive anti-corruption campaign within the nation's conscription framework. In recent developments, President Volodymyr Zelensky took resolute measures by terminating the appointments of all regional military conscription officials.

Berezhny's recognition coincides with Ukraine's ongoing counteroffensive, which has extended for over three months but has encountered difficulty in achieving substantial territorial gains despite full Western backing.

In recent days, Russian President Vladimir Putin estimated Ukraine's military casualties to exceed 71,000 personnel. Additionally, he proposed that Kiev might consider engaging in negotiations with Moscow once its resources for confronting Russian defenses become critically depleted. Putin's assessment emphasized that Ukraine would primarily seek talks to rehabilitate its weakened military capabilities.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... rce:-field

[Anthea]

Ukraine's backer U-turn on Kiev

Republican Representative in the US House of Representatives, Andy Harris, is changing his mind on backing Ukraine, calling for reducing the amount of aid being sent to the country

In a recent town hall meeting, GOP Representative Andy Harris, a member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, expressed reservations about continuing direct US aid to Ukraine.

This shift in stance by Harris, a staunch ally of Ukraine's and a main backer of Kiev, raised eyebrows within the Republican Party, while also reflecting the Red party's evolving position on the issue of supporting Ukraine.

Harris's remarks came during a presentation on the national debt, where he questioned the effectiveness of ongoing aid efforts to Ukraine.

The first package this year was a $3 billion package in military aid to Ukraine, which included Bradley military vehicles, self-propelled Howitzer artillery guns, MRAPS vehicles, Sea Sparrow missiles, and ammo, among other military materials and equipment.

In February, the Pentagon announced a $460 million package to Ukraine, which included "more ammunition for US-provided HIMARS and howitzers that Ukraine is using to defend their country as well as more Javelins, anti-armor systems, and air surveillance radars" per a Pentagon statement at the time.

Then, in March, the US announced that it would provide Ukraine with new military aid amounting to $350 million, including HIMARS and howitzers ammunition, anti-tank systems, and Bradley armored vehicles.

During a surprise visit to Ukraine in May, US President Joe Biden expressed his country's unceasing support after taking the chance to promise Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky that more arms will be sent and that they have his unflagging commitment to helping Ukraine.
Failing spring counteroffensive

Harris characterized Ukraine's spring counteroffensive as a failure, and expressed doubts about how likely Ukraine is to emerge victorious from the war. Despite his Ukrainian heritage and previous support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Harris appears to be reconsidering his position.

One of the critical reasons behind Harris's change in tone is his concern about the fiscal implications of further aid to Ukraine, wherein he cited the trillion-dollar US deficits in the post-Covid years and emphasized that the country does not have the financial resources to sustain such aid efforts.

Harris also voiced apprehensions about potential fraud, waste, and the rising cost of food in the US. He even raised the specter of involving Ukraine in NATO, fearing it could "lead to World War III."

These concerns align with the broader GOP shift in perspective on Ukraine aid, setting the stage for a challenging debate when Congress reconvenes.

President Joe Biden's request for an additional $24 billion in emergency funds for Ukraine this fall will require the support of Republican conservatives like Harris. However, Harris indicated that he would only support aid if it were directed toward humanitarian purposes or military efforts with proper oversight.

More realism in the Capitol

Furthermore, Harris joined other GOP hardliners in calling for peace talks to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

While acknowledging President Zelensky's reluctance to engage in negotiations, Harris emphasized the importance of realistic assessments, suggesting that without US assistance, Zelensky's chances of success were limited.

Harris's shift in stance reflects the evolving landscape of the Republican party's position on Ukraine aid, and it underscores the complex challenges Speaker Kevin McCarthy will face when Congress returns from recess next month.

The debate over aid to Ukraine promises to be a contentious issue, with fiscal concerns, geopolitical ramifications, and potential peace talks all on the table.
Opposing a 'black check'

This comes in the wake of the House Freedom Caucus issuing in August a statement saying they would oppose any "blank check" for Ukraine in future supplemental appropriation bills, adding that they would vote against a continuing resolution on stopgap funding in order to circumvent the government shutdown in October.

The Freedom Caucus is a group of "the most far-right" Republicans in the United States House of Representatives, currently holding 45 out of the 435 seats.

"[I]n the eventuality that Congress must consider a short-term extension of government funding through a Continuing Resolution, we refuse to support any such measure that continues Democrats' bloated COVID-era spending and simultaneously fails to force the Biden Administration to follow the law and fulfill its most basic responsibilities," the caucus stated

The United States alone has contributed over $100 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian supplies to the country.

Meanwhile, the majority of Americans believe the US has supported Ukraine in its continuing struggle with Russia sufficiently and would argue against allocating extra funds for the nation, according to a recent poll conducted by pollster Social Science-Research Solutions (SSRS) and commissioned by CNN.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... rn-on-kiev