TheOldGuy @TheOldGuy@qoto.org

The CIA helped create a network of secret spy bases on the territory of Ukraine and a Ukrainian intelligence network in countries where Russian intelligence services are active.

According to The New York Times, American intelligence has maintained a secret partnership with Ukrainian intelligence services for 10 years, exchanging intercepted information with Ukrainian colleagues.

With the support of the CIA and MI-6, the SBU created the paramilitary Fifth Directorate to conduct operations behind Russian lines. It was staffed by employees born after the collapse of the USSR and with no ties to Russia, the newspaper notes.

In 2014, the CIA delivered secure communications equipment to Ukraine for the first time and trained members of the Fifth Directorate and two other elite Ukrainian intelligence units.

The CIA also oversaw a training program for Ukrainian intelligence officers, which took place in two European cities. Among other things, Ukrainians were taught to work undercover. This is how a new generation of Ukrainian intelligence officers appeared who worked in Russia, throughout Europe, in Cuba, and other places of Russian presence.

With the help of the American department, Ukrainian intelligence has created 12 forward operating bases along the Russian border, the newspaper writes. From these centers, Ukrainian officers managed a network of agents who collected intelligence inside the Russian Federation. The bases were equipped with equipment for collecting intelligence information. After the start of a full-scale war, two more secret bases were built to intercept Russian communications. They are almost entirely financed and partially equipped by the CIA.

@ukrainejournal

BREAKING:
Russian media reports, that the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a strike with 2 HIMARS missiles at the personnel gathering place in Yelenovka, Donetsk region, during the award ceremony.
They write about 19 military deaths. 12 people were injured.

And it was precisely when the command of the 155th Separate Marine Brigade brought the unit’s personnel out into formation to reward the “distinguished” fighters.

They were rewarded with an express ticket to Hell! 19 Rashists, including the deputy brigade commander, were liquidated.

Crimean Wind reports among the dead:
- Roman Kozhukhov, lieutenant colonel, deputy brigade commander;
- Abilov Alexander, major;
- Shakhmanov Nail, captain;

- The commander of the 155th Brigade Colonel Mikhail Gudkov was wounded.

This information is not yet confirmed by Ukraine. We'll keep you posted.

@ukrainejournal

The Kremlin is preparing russians for a protracted war — British Intelligence.

It is stated that the russian authorities are trying to justify the duration of the war and the scale of Russian losses by portraying the war as a direct conflict with the West.

British intelligence believes that the Kremlin regime wants to prepare russians for a long-term conflict and the associated decline in living standards within the country.
@ukrainejournal

Ukrinform

https://open.substack.com/pub/ukrinformsubscription/p/newsletter-28022024?r=70k1h&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

44% of Ukrainians think we are tired of supporting their war.

https://kyivindependent.com/poll-44-of-ukrainians-believe-west-tired/

Russian court sentences human rights activist

https://kyivindependent.com/russian-court-sentences-human-rights-campaigner-oleg-orlov-to-2-5-years-in-prison/

Robert Reich

https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/how-will-trump-get-the-cash-he-owes?r=70k1h&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Jeff Tiedrich on the State of the Union

https://open.substack.com/pub/jefftiedrich/p/terrified-republicans-are-trying?r=70k1h&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Zelenskyy expressed bewilderment at how Trump could align himself with Putin, stating, "I know he's met with him... but he's never fought Putin. The American military has never fought the Russian army. Never... I understand better. I don't think he understands that Putin will never stop."

The president believes that if Trump were to choose to support Russia over Ukraine in the ongoing full-scale war, it would be a stance "against the Americans."

NATO and three countries have responded to France's proposal to send troops to Ukraine.

The Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, stated that "Ukraine does not need this."

Deputy Minister of Defense of Poland, Cezary Tomczyk, clarified that the country "does not have such a project or idea."

Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, affirmed that "the Czech Republic is not going to send troops to Ukraine," with Defense Minister Yana Chernokhova echoing that she was unaware of any such initiative.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg concluded that the Alliance also has no plans to send its troops to Ukraine.

Polish police detained Ukrainian journalists near the Belarusian border.

According to Mykhailo Tkach, while Polish farmers are blocking the Ukrainian-Polish border, the Ukrainian Pravda team decided to film a report on the transit of products between Poland, Russia, and Belarus.

As a result, the journalist and the cameraman who was filming with him were detained and held in the police station for at least 4 hours. During this time, the journalists were not allowed to contact anyone. The policemen partially deleted the footage.

At the Polish police station, Ukrainian journalists were interrogated not only by police officers but also by representatives of the special services.

The situation was resolved only after publicity and the intervention of the Ukrainian Embassy in Poland. The journalists are currently talking to lawyers.

According to the Financial Times, Russia is prepared to utilize nuclear weapons early in a conflict with a major global power or if it suffers a loss of 20% of its submarines.

Classified Russian military documents obtained by journalists reveal that Moscow's criteria for using tactical nuclear weapons are much lower than publicly stated by Russian officials.

The report delves into 29 classified military files from 2008 to 2014, which detail scenarios of military exercises and presentations for Russian Navy officers discussing the principles of nuclear weapon deployment.

In one exercise scenario involving a potential invasion by China, Russia, referred to as the "Northern Federation," considers responding with a tactical nuclear strike to the second wave of a Chinese army offensive.

The documents outline additional criteria for potential nuclear weapon use, including enemy landings on Russian territory, defeats of border protection units, or imminent
enemy attacks using conventional weapons.

Thresholds for action may involve a combination of factors leading to irreversible losses for Russian forces, such as significant troop casualties or substantial damage to military assets.

Despite the age of these documents, experts suggest they remain pertinent to Russian military doctrine.

Taras Vysotskyi, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, asserts that damages resulting from the spillage of Ukrainian grain in Poland should be compensated by the responsible party.

Addressing at least four incidents of Ukrainian agricultural products deteriorating in Poland, including 180 tons of corn destined for Morocco, Vysotskyi emphasized the necessity for compensation. He stated, "The one who caused the damages must compensate them. This can be decided by the court results or voluntarily... We hope for the shortest possible time to bring the case to court, justice, and full compensation for the damages by those who caused them."

Vysotskyi further noted that Ukraine possesses evidence indicating that criminal proceedings have been initiated in Poland regarding cases where individuals dispersed Ukrainian grain.

Deep traces of ten years of occupation

The annexation of Crimea ten years ago, which violated international law, also massively changed the lives of Crimean Tatars. Since then, many have left their homes, been dispossessed or put in prison. Today, they see their culture threatened.
"We are the big losers from the annexation of Crimea, and since the start of the war in 2022, our situation has become even worse", explains Azeez Umerov, at the screening of a recently released documentary about ten years of occupation in Crimea.(...) "The Russians are trying to erase the identity of the Crimean Tatars."(...) Mosques, monuments and historical buildings were destroyed. Children have no longer the opportunity to learn the Crimean Tatars' language which is banned.
The length of prison sentences for political prisoners and the conditions in the prison camps are worse than in Soviet times. The prison camps are like gulags and therefore a structure that outlived the Soviet Union.(...)

Tagesschau (autotranslator), Feb. 27, 2024

https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/russland-annexion-krim-krimtataren-100.html

@Dianna_DiDi

"Fervor is not the same as at 19, but I know why I am here." Azov fighter Yar on 10 years of war - hromadske

"I knew that we should be on Maidan right now. The level of self-organization was very high. I saw this for the first time in my life, I felt as if I was somewhere in Zaporizhzhia Sich, and I was surrounded by like-minded people," recalls Yar, an Azov fighter.

Yar is 28. He is a short blond guy with a beard and green eyes and a large trident tattoo on his neck. He was 17 when he and his friends came from Lviv to the Revolution of Dignity. At the age of 19, Yar joined the "Azov" regiment, where he served until 2020. During those 5 years of service, the boy was in Pavlopol, Mariinka, and Shyrokyne. The last trip in 2019 to the Svitlodarsk arc was the most difficult for him. He spent 9 months there. During that trip, Yar lost his brother in arms.

In 2020, Yar returned to civilian life, but two years later he had to return to service – Russia launched a large-scale invasion.

For the path of an Azov fighter through 10 years of war – watch in the hromadske video.

🙏🏻 Belgium will allocate €200 million to the initiative of the Czech Republic to purchase ammunition for Ukraine, - the Prime Minister of Belgium Mr De Croo

Belgium is stepping into the European ammunition procurement initiative, coordinated by the Czech Republic.

Belgium is investing 200 million euros to buy 155mm artillery ammunition. This will allow the purchase of around 50,000 pieces.

Besides Belgium, the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Canada have already joined the purchase.

The ammunition will be delivered to Ukraine before the end of March, Mr De Croo said.

In addition to the 200 million invested in the European purchase, the Belgian defence ministry will release a further 334 million euros for Ukraine.

This involves ammunition from its own stock or ammunition that Belgium will buy itself.

Investments will also be made in medical equipment, armoured ambulances, reconnaissance drones and the F-16 fighter jet coalition.

Interest on Russian assets seized in Belgium will pay for the outlay.

John Kirby, a spokesperson for the US National Security Council in the White House, warned that without prompt US support, Russia could seize additional territories in Ukraine within a month or two.

"They're running out of ammunition; it's a very dire situation. I'm not going to speculate on the exact day they might lose the war, but they're definitely ceding territory they had previously regained from the Russians because they're unable to fend off their assaults," Kirby stated.

Kirby was addressing remarks made by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson, who indicated that he continues to prioritize border security over aid for Ukraine.

Following a meeting at the White House, Johnson stated:

"I made it clear to the President and the rest of the audience that the House is actively exploring all options. And we will take up this issue in a timely manner. But, again, the first priority for our country is the border and its security," - said the Speaker.

Kirby emphasized the immediate urgency of the aid:

"When you talk about 'timely' assistance, what does that mean?

For Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines, 'timely' means now.

As we return from the weekend, the Russians have begun seizing new towns and villages in Ukraine. Their advance continues; this is not a stagnant conflict," Kirby emphasized.

20,000 soldiers of 50 different nationalities are volunteering in Ukraine. Insulin dependent not accepted
https://t.me/warinukraineua/3195

Sanctions are interfering with Russian oil sales to India.

https://t.me/Kyivpost_official/19878

A catalog of Russian War crimes from June and July 2022. Click the link to get the very detailed article.

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/28634