Russia readies for war

A Pentagon official has given a "ballpark" figure of Russia's casualties since it started the war in Ukraine on February 24, in a sign of the high cost of Vladimir Putin 's invasion of his own forces. Colin Kahl, the Department of Defense undersecretary for policy, said at a briefing on Monday: "It's safe to suggest that the Russians have probably taken 70 or 80,000 casualties in less than six months," adding, "That is a combination of killed in action and wounded in action and that number might be a little lower, a little higher, but I think that's kind of in the ballpark." He described the number of Russian casualties as "remarkable" given that Russia's forces have "achieved none of Vladimir Putin's objectives" since invading Ukraine. If Kahl's figures are confirmed, this would mean that in only six months, Russia would have suffered more casualties than the United States did during the Revolutionary War, which was fought over eight years, between April 19, 1775, to … [Read more...] about More Russian casualties in Ukraine than U.S. troops in Revolutionary War

A Ukrainian lawmaker fighting on the southern front around the city of Kherson has urged a "serious" expansion of the creeping Ukrainian counter-offensive in the region—touted as a possible turning point in Russia's invasion of the country. Roman Kostenko—one of the famous " cyborg " Ukrainian troops who defended Donetsk International Airport in 2014, and a veteran of the years-long fight against Russian-directed forces in the Donbas—told Newsweek how he thinks Kyiv and its partners abroad can boost the slow Ukrainian advance in the south. In an in-depth interview via phone from near the front line, Kostenko said: Ukraine's "creeping" military operation needs "serious" revision Russians are using everything "barring nukes" during battles Occupying forces "have entrenched and are holding on" Defenders needs U.S. ATACMS to "really rattle" the Russians The Ukrainian approach in the south has so far been defined by small, localized advances north of Kherson city, … [Read more...] about “Cyborg” fighter rallies Ukraine counter-attack against Russia

The home of a former state TV journalist who quit after making an on-air protest against Moscow’s war in Ukraine was raided by Russian authorities Wednesday. A criminal case against Marina Ovsyannikova was also launched on the charge of spreading false information about the Russian armed forces , her lawyer said on social media. The case was launched under a law, enacted after the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine , that penalizes statements against the military, lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov said. A conviction is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Zakhvatov told the independent news site Meduza that the case is likely linked to a protest Ovsyannikova staged last month, holding a banner that said Russian President Vladimir Putin “is a killer, his soldiers are fascists.” Zakhvatov said on Telegram that after the raid Ovsyannikova is expected to be brought into the Investigative Committee for questioning. Ovsyannikova used to work as a producer with Russian … [Read more...] about Russia raids home of TV journalist who staged on-air protest about Ukraine war

Ukrainian partisans were reportedly involved in Tuesday's devastating attack on Russia's Saky air base in Crimea, which took place 120 miles from the current front line between Ukrainian and Russian troops. At least 12 explosions rocked the facility, with videos showing large plumes of smoke rising from the site and at least one destroyed aircraft. While Russia insists the explosions were an accident, a U.S. government source told The Washington Post they appeared to be the work of Ukrainian forces. A senior Ukrainian official said partisans were involved in the attack, but it's unclear if they participated directly or passed on intelligence. If confirmed, this would be the latest blow against Russian forces from Ukraine's resistance fighters, who have been attacking the troops and local collaborators across occupied parts of southern Ukraine. While the exact extent of this insurgency is hard to verify, Ivan Fedorov, the exiled mayor of occupied Melitopol, said in April that … [Read more...] about Ukrainian partisans credited with attacks behind Russian line

The pro-Russian hacker group Killnet, who has claimed responsibility for the cyberattack which reportedly hacked American military company, Lockheed Martin, on August 1, said the defense giant will be subject to more cyberattacks in the future, according to The Moscow Times . The outlet posted on Telegram that Killnet said it launched a DDOS (distributed denial of service) attack on Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System ( HIMARS ) that the U.S. has supplied to Ukraine, and "the best Akamai protection system in the world fell off." The Lockheed Martin website is currently active, and it's unclear whether it ever sustained a cyberattack, as the company did not clearly answer a request to confirm whether they were hacked or not. A Lockheed Martin spokesperson told Newsweek that the company is "aware of the reports and have policies and procedures in place to mitigate cyber threats to our business, adding that "we remain confident … [Read more...] about HIMARS-Maker Lockheed Martin “confident” against Russian hackers

Colin Kahl, the U.S. under secretary of defense for policy in the Biden administration, has warned that four countries are standing in the way of eliminating nuclear weapons. The Pentagon official pointed to the nuclear threats posed by Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. His comments come as an Iranian opposition group told Newsweek that Tehran will not abandon its plans to obtain a nuclear bomb even as talks resumed in Vienna on Friday over the country's atomic program. Kahl said on Friday that curbing a nuclear arms race was its most challenging since the end of the Cold War. At the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York, he cited the rhetoric from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine as one of the examples of barriers to eliminating nuclear weapons. The NPT is a deal aimed at preventing the increase of nuclear weapons and to promote cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. China's rapid expansion of its nuclear weapons … [Read more...] about Pentagon official names 4 countries impeding elimination of nuclear weapons

Nine Russian jets were destroyed in explosions at an air base in Crimea , Ukraine’s air force said Wednesday. It comes amid speculation the blasts were the result of a Ukrainian attack that would represent a significant escalation in the war . Russia denied any aircraft were damaged in Tuesday’s explosions — or that any attack took place. Ukrainian officials have stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility for the explosions, while poking fun at Russia’s explanation that munitions at the Saki air base caught fire and blew up and underscoring the importance of the peninsula that Moscow annexed eight years ago. In his nightly video address several hours after the blasts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to retake the peninsula, saying “this Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea — its liberation”. On Wednesday, Russian authorities sought to downplay the explosions, saying all hotels … [Read more...] about 9 Russian warplanes were destroyed in Crimea blasts, Ukraine says

As the global economy is reeling under the impact of Ukraine-Russia war and US-China tensions, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador suggested setting up a 3-member commission comprising Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Pope Francis, to promote a 5-year world truce without war or trade wars. He announced that he will submit a written proposal to the UN in the regard, according to MSN . His remarks came following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan which sparked tensions between the US and China, which claims the self-governed island as its own territory. The president said that geopolitical tensions between China, Taiwan, and the US are hurting the world, which is reeling under record inflation and supply chain issues, Russian state-controlled international news television network RT reported. “Nations can agree on a truce of at least five years to be able to face the crisis affecting the peoples. A truce … [Read more...] about PM Modi in 3-Member Commission Proposed by Mexican President for 5-Year Global Truce

Chennai hosted the 44th International Chess Olympiad, which ended on August 9 with much pomp and fanfare. More than 2000 players from close to 180 countries participated in it. The Olympiad took place in Mamallapuram. Meanwhile, the closing ceremony was organised at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin presented medals to all the winners, in the presence of President of FIDE Arkady Dvorkovich who handed over the trophy to Uzbekistan, the winning team under the open category (men). There were also various artistic programs that showcased the rich cultural heritage of the country. Superstar Rajinikanth’s Vetri Kodikattu and Thalapathy Vijay’s Aalapooran Thamizhan also made a cut at the closing ceremony. The grand event was supposed to be hosted by Russia but landed up in India’s kitty after the World Chess Federation decided to pull back post-Russia’s war against Ukraine. Delhi, Chennai and Gujarat were shortlisted, from which Chennai turned host. This … [Read more...] about 44th Chess Olympiad: Rajinikanth, Thalapathy Vijay’s Songs Played At Closing Ceremony

FEBRUARY, 1907 (1858-1862) BY MORRIS SCHAFF I ON THE THRESHOLD SOME time during the winter of 185758, I received from the Hon. Samuel S. Cox, Member of Congress from Ohio, and representing the district composed of Licking, Franklin, and Pickaway, an appointment as cadet at West Point. I know it was winter time, for, across the vanished years, I can see the family gathered before the big wood fire, and my father entering, clad in his greatcoat — he had been to Newark and on his way home had stopped at the post office in Kirkersville—and bearing in his hand a large and significant-looking official letter. Removing his coat and adjusting his glasses, he opened the communication from Washington and read my appointment. Oh, the quiet radiance of my mother’s face! And never, I think, did fire burn so cheerily as ours burned that night, — and somehow, I am fain to believe, the curling smoke communicated the news to the old farm; for every field that I had wandered over from … [Read more...] about The Spirit of Old West Point