Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) reported over 25,000 Russian soldiers and officers deserted from the Central Military District between late 2024 and July 2025. These desertions occurred in various forms, including abandoning positions on the battlefield and failing to return from leave. HUR attributed this to poor service conditions, supply shortages, and brutal tactics. Furthermore, HUR documented over 30 incidents involving weapons or equipment being taken during the desertions, and noted a pattern of executions of soldiers who refused to fight.
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Ukrainian forces from the Lasar’s Group successfully eliminated a Russian BM-30 Smerch MLRS in Kherson Oblast, striking from a distance of approximately 50 kilometers. The Defence Forces of Ukraine’s South released video evidence showcasing the successful hit and ammunition detonation. This precise operation was conducted under the purview of the Pivden (South) Operational Strategic Group.
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Russian state media inadvertently revealed the location of an airfield used to house modified Yak-52 aircraft designed to intercept Ukrainian drones. The footage, intended to showcase an “innovative” adaptation, allowed analysts to pinpoint the airfield as the private “Korsak” airfield near Pryazovske, about 20 kilometers southeast of occupied Melitopol. The geolocation was confirmed by matching the distinctive tile-patterned surfaces and infrastructure seen in the broadcast with satellite imagery. The airstrip’s recent repairs, visible in satellite images, indicate continued operational use by Russian forces near the frontline.
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Reports from the Ukrainian partisan group ATESH indicate that agents embedded within the Russian military provided crucial intelligence that thwarted a planned offensive near Vovchansk. This intelligence included precise coordinates of Russian artillery positions, vehicles, and troop concentrations, allowing Ukrainian forces to launch preemptive strikes. ATESH claims its informants continue to gather battlefield intelligence for Ukrainian defense structures. This incident follows a previous report where an ATESH agent helped disable a Russian air-defense system on the Kherson front.
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Ukraine confirms a strike on a Crimean oil terminal, and the resulting three-day blaze, is a pretty major development, and it really makes you think about the strategic implications of such actions. The fact that this fire has been burning for such an extended period suggests the damage is extensive, and that has significant implications.
Crimea’s energy infrastructure is a critical logistical hub for Russian forces. This makes perfect sense, as a sustained fire like this could severely disrupt fuel supplies to the southern front. It really appears that Ukraine is strategically doubling down on deep-strike tactics. This autumn, that kind of pressure, hitting their infrastructure, is an effective way to put pressure on Russia.… Continue reading
Ukraine hunts Russian reinforcements near Pokrovsk with coordinated HIMARS, drone, and air strikes, and it sounds like things are finally heating up. The news is focusing on the Pokrovsk region, and the buzz is all about coordinated attacks – a real trifecta of HIMARS strikes, drone reconnaissance, and air support. It’s a strong combination, and hopefully, it means that Ukraine is making headway in pushing back against the Russian forces. We’re talking about a significant tactical advantage here.
This push towards Pokrovsk is crucial because of the reinforcements Russia is trying to pour in. It’s a game of cat and mouse, with Ukraine using every tool in its arsenal to disrupt the Russian supply lines and prevent them from consolidating their positions.… Continue reading
During a Valdai Club meeting, Vladimir Putin responded to Donald Trump’s “paper tiger” assessment of Russia by suggesting Trump “go and deal with it.” Putin asserted Russia’s confidence in its military capabilities, highlighting its current conflict with NATO-backed forces in Ukraine. Putin’s remarks followed Trump’s statement on Truth Social, where the former US president questioned Russia’s strength after meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
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Ukraine forms the largest Russian “cauldron” yet in Pokrovsk counter-attack, trapping thousands of soldiers. News from the Pokrovsk direction in the Donetsk Oblast has definitely caught my attention. It sounds like a significant development, and the potential implications are huge. The very term “cauldron” conjures images of a complete encirclement, a trapped force facing annihilation, and that is exactly what seems to be happening. The Ukrainian forces are demonstrating impressive tactical prowess, and the situation has escalated rapidly.
This encirclement tactic has been amplified by the widespread use of drones. These modern battlefield tools have revolutionized the way wars are fought.… Continue reading
On September 25, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) reported a successful drone attack on occupied Crimea, destroying two Russian An-26 transport aircraft and two radar stations. This strike is part of a larger effort to eliminate valuable Russian assets on the peninsula. The An-26 aircraft, commonly used for troop and cargo transport, were targeted along with a surface surveillance radar system and a coastal radar station. This attack continues the trend of intensified operations against Russian military infrastructure in Crimea, following similar strikes in recent weeks.
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Colonel General Alexander Lapin has been dismissed from Russian military service, according to reports. Lapin faced criticism due to significant setbacks in 2022, including the collapse of Russian defenses during Ukraine’s Kharkiv counteroffensive. These failures continued into 2024, with Ukrainian incursions into Kursk Oblast, resulting in substantial territorial losses. Following his removal, Lapin is set to become an assistant to the head of Tatarstan.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood