The Ukraine war thread

[George K]

Russia Withdraws Black Sea Fleet Vessels From Crimea Base

Russia has withdrawn the bulk of its Black Sea Fleet from its main base in occupied Crimea, a potent acknowledgment of how Ukrainian missile and drone strikes are challenging Moscow’s hold on the peninsula.

Russia has moved powerful vessels including three attack submarines and two frigates from Sevastopol to other ports in Russia and Crimea that offer better protection, according to Western officials and satellite images verified by naval experts. The Russian Defense Ministry didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The move represents a remarkable setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose military seizure of Crimea in 2014 marked the opening shots in his attempt to take control of Ukraine. His full-scale invasion of last year has now boomeranged, forcing the removal of ships from a port that was first claimed by Russia in 1783 under Catherine the Great.

The withdrawal from Sevastopol follows a series of strikes by Ukraine in recent weeks that have severely damaged Russian vessels and the fleet’s headquarters.

The immediate military effects of the move are limited, as the ships will still be able to fire cruise missiles on civilian infrastructure such as ports and power grids, naval experts said. Ukraine’s strikes had already broken the fleet’s blockade of Ukrainian ports, denying Russian access to parts of the Black Sea and opening a new corridor for Ukraine to dispatch economically vital grain shipments.

But the withdrawal is a timely boost for Ukraine as its counteroffensive advances more slowly than planned amid heavy losses and political ructions in the U.S. raise questions about funding for Kyiv’s efforts to expel Russian occupying forces.

[George K]

Opps....

[taiwan_girl]

the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea

Was that here or did I read somewhere else that Russia is taking a lot of their ships from this base because concerns about future and present damage from Ukraine.

[Jolly]

Mines have been known to break their moorings and drift.

[Renauda]

More info:

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/22662

[Wim]

Ukrainian army crossing Dnipro:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/18/ukraine-russia-war-dnipro-river-cross-advance-poima-kyiv/

[Mik]

Good.

[LuFins Dad]

Wait, there’s a war in Ukraine, too?

[Jolly]

@LuFins-Dad said in The Ukraine war thread:

Wait, there’s a war in Ukraine, too?

My thoughts, exactly.

[Rainman]

From the article:
"Ukraine has amassed almost 7,000 troops, 46 tanks, 223 armoured vehicles and eight artillery guns in the area now, according to Rochan Consulting’s Ukraine Conflict Monitor."

[Renauda]

Let’s hope it doesn’t prove to be Ukraine’s Market Garden/bridge too far.

[George K]

[Jolly]

Russian push ...

https://asiatimes.com/2023/10/battle-for-avdiivka-could-decide-the-ukraine-war/

[George K]

Mutinies?

Thread:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1717140898411114938.html

[Jolly]

The Russian Bear may need dentures before all of this is over.

[George K]

This twitter feed has some impressive, up close and personal, video of drone work on a small scale. Death comes from the sky, and these guys are totally unaware.

[Renauda]

A message to collaborators:

https://www.voanews.com/amp/ukrainian-pro-russian-entrepreneur-latest-victim-in-string-of-attacks/7330181.html

[Axtremus]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/gaza-plagued-poverty-hamas-no-shortage-cash-come-rcna121099

NBC News article on Hamas' money: how much they have, their military budget, where they get the money from.

[George K]

oops...

[Renauda]

@Axtremus

Interesting article but I fail to see a connection with the war in Ukraine.