"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (18 Viewers)

[GTX]

He used to be called Putin's chef. In reality, he was the secret head of the president's private army

Yevgeny Prigozhin, an elusive Russian oligarch linked to an election-meddling troll farm, now openly admits he founded the private military company doing Vladimir Putin's bidding in Ukraine. But his brazen new approach could spell trouble for the president.

www.abc.net.au

 

[GTX]

 

[GTX]

Kherson residents told by pro-Russian officials to evacuate as Ukraine prepares offensive

Russian-installed authorities in Ukraine tell Kherson residents to leave "immediately" ahead of an expected advance by Ukrainian troops waging a counteroffensive to recapture the city.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Admiral Beez]

Kherson residents told by pro-Russian officials to evacuate as Ukraine prepares offensive

Russian-installed authorities in Ukraine tell Kherson residents to leave "immediately" ahead of an expected advance by Ukrainian troops waging a counteroffensive to recapture the city.

www.abc.net.au

I'm surprised to see the crowds of Ukrainians on the boats crossing the Dnieper fleeing Kherson. Are these collaborators, ethnic Russians? They don't appear to be coerced or kidnapped under arms. I'd be hiding to wait the AFU's arrival.

More flee Ukraine's Kherson as Russian occupiers renew warnings

Russian occupation authorities in the Ukrainian city of Kherson told civilians on Saturday they should leave immediately because of what they called the tense military situation as Ukraine's forces advance.

www.reuters.com

 

[Greg Boeser]

Perhaps they saw what happened to Mariupol.

 

[GrauGeist]

I'm surprised to see the crowds of Ukrainians on the boats crossing the Dnieper fleeing Kherson. Are these collaborators, ethnic Russians? They don't appear to be coerced or kidnapped under arms. I'd be hiding to wait the AFU's arrival.

More flee Ukraine's Kherson as Russian occupiers renew warnings

Russian occupation authorities in the Ukrainian city of Kherson told civilians on Saturday they should leave immediately because of what they called the tense military situation as Ukraine's forces advance.

www.reuters.com

They are most likely trying to get out of harm's way.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

It could also be a dog-and-pony show for the cameras.

 

[ThomasP]

US COMINT and HUMINT indicates that Russia is planning on removing the residents in staged movements (timed and measured, not staged as in faked) in order to allow increased battlefield anonymity and movement of troops and equipment within the same area and time period. The intent is to delay and prevent the Ukrainian forces from having clear and unfettered targeting of the Russian forces as they retreat, as they figure the Ukrainians will be unwilling to risk hitting civilians by accident.

The staged evacuation is also intended to show the Russian people that Russia cares about the pro-Russian population in the Kherson region and is protecting them against the Ukrainians, hopefully boosting morale in the occupied areas - Crimea in particular as their is apparently widespread near-panic in Crimea and doubt re Russia's ability to protect them, as well as rising anger at the Russian government's bungling of the war.

There is also indication that the Russians are systematically looting works of art and other things of value, hiding and transporting the items amongst the evacuation.

The source for the above is usually accurate.

 

[Admiral Beez]

their [sic] is apparently widespread near-panic in Crimea and doubt re Russia's ability to protect them,

And well placed panic, since once Kherson city is taken there's not much urban area before Armiansk, Crimea, 130 km to the southeast, a two hour drive or 2-3 days march down modern roads.

Kherson to Armiansk

goo.gl

 

[GrauGeist]

And while all the chaos is ensuing in Kherson, Mariupol is a ripe fruit for the picking...

 

[RogerdeLluria]

I'm surprised to see the crowds of Ukrainians on the boats crossing the Dnieper fleeing Kherson. Are these collaborators, ethnic Russians? They don't appear to be coerced or kidnapped under arms. I'd be hiding to wait the AFU's arrival.

More flee Ukraine's Kherson as Russian occupiers renew warnings

Russian occupation authorities in the Ukrainian city of Kherson told civilians on Saturday they should leave immediately because of what they called the tense military situation as Ukraine's forces advance.

www.reuters.com

Acording to this they are collaborators and Russians.

'Not a civilian evacuation': Collaborators and Russians leaving Kherson, resident says

Russian officials claim they are trying to remove all civilians from the city, the focus of a major counteroffensive by Ukrainian troops. But in a detailed interview, one resident told Sky News that the evacuation is not designed for them.

news.sky.com

 

[at6]

Find a way to destroy the Russian gas facilities so that Moscow freezes. Then watch as they stack "Putin Popsicles" like firewood in the street.

 

[J_P_C]

this time Irkutsk and Su-30, both pilots are reported as KIA.

 

[J_P_C]

little bit dated considering foliage conditions but worth to watch..

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Russian forces continued to withdraw from western Kherson Oblast while preparing to conduct delaying actions that will likely be only partially effective. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces have completely abandoned their positions in Charivne and Chkalove (both approximately 33km northwest of Nova Kakhovka), and Russian officers and medics have reportedly evacuated from Beryslav. The Ukrainian General Staff added that Russian forces are also removing patients from the Kakhovka Hospital on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, likely to free up hospital beds for Russian military casualties that may result from the withdrawal across the river. The Ukrainian General Staff noted that some Russian elements are preparing Kherson City for urban combat, while other servicemembers continue to flee the city via the ferry operating in the vicinity of the Antonivsky Bridge. The UK Ministry of Defense reported on October 22 that Russian forces completed construction of a barge bridge alongside the damaged bridge and forecasted that the barge bridge would become a critical crossing point for Russian forces as Ukrainian forces advance toward Kherson City. A large part of the Kherson City population has also reportedly left the city.

[...]

Ukraine's Southern Operational Command reiterated that Russian military leadership has moved their officer corps across the river but left newly-mobilized men on the western bank of the Dnipro River as a detachment left in contact. Using such inexperienced forces to conduct a delaying action could prompt a Russian rout if Ukrainian forces choose to press the attack, as ISW previously assessed. One Russian milblogger noted that the situation in Kherson Oblast is dire for Russian troops, noting that it is "virtually impossible" for Russia to evacuate troops from the first lines of defense and that only two questions remain: how to withdraw the final front line of forces, and how to explain the withdrawal to the Russian population.

Institute for the Study of War

This page collects ISW and CTP's updates on the conflict in Ukraine. In late February 2022, ISW began publishing daily synthetic products covering key events related to renewed Russian aggression against Ukraine.

www.understandingwar.org

Leaving raw recruits without leaders on the wrong side of the river? What genius thought this up?

 

[Glider]

Meanwhile, back in Russia, Smoking is still a serious threat to your wellbeing.

MSN

 

[fubar57]

Flying just outside Ukraine, NATO's sentinel planes warn of Russia's battlefield moves | CBC News

Come aboard one of NATO’s planes where surveillance operators use the sophisticated Airborne Warning and Control System to peer deep inside wartime Ukraine and quietly provide a near real-time picture of Russian forces.

www.cbc.ca

 

[buffnut453]

Russian forces continued to withdraw from western Kherson Oblast while preparing to conduct delaying actions that will likely be only partially effective. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces have completely abandoned their positions in Charivne and Chkalove (both approximately 33km northwest of Nova Kakhovka), and Russian officers and medics have reportedly evacuated from Beryslav. The Ukrainian General Staff added that Russian forces are also removing patients from the Kakhovka Hospital on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, likely to free up hospital beds for Russian military casualties that may result from the withdrawal across the river. The Ukrainian General Staff noted that some Russian elements are preparing Kherson City for urban combat, while other servicemembers continue to flee the city via the ferry operating in the vicinity of the Antonivsky Bridge. The UK Ministry of Defense reported on October 22 that Russian forces completed construction of a barge bridge alongside the damaged bridge and forecasted that the barge bridge would become a critical crossing point for Russian forces as Ukrainian forces advance toward Kherson City. A large part of the Kherson City population has also reportedly left the city.

[...]

Ukraine's Southern Operational Command reiterated that Russian military leadership has moved their officer corps across the river but left newly-mobilized men on the western bank of the Dnipro River as a detachment left in contact. Using such inexperienced forces to conduct a delaying action could prompt a Russian rout if Ukrainian forces choose to press the attack, as ISW previously assessed. One Russian milblogger noted that the situation in Kherson Oblast is dire for Russian troops, noting that it is "virtually impossible" for Russia to evacuate troops from the first lines of defense and that only two questions remain: how to withdraw the final front line of forces, and how to explain the withdrawal to the Russian population.

Institute for the Study of War

This page collects ISW and CTP's updates on the conflict in Ukraine. In late February 2022, ISW began publishing daily synthetic products covering key events related to renewed Russian aggression against Ukraine.

www.understandingwar.org

Leaving raw recruits without leaders on the wrong side of the river? What genius thought this up?

Yeah, if I was a smart, young Russian soldier who was part of the "holding action," I'd look for every opportunity to surrender.

As to the question of why so many civilians are evacuating, I agree with the idea that they are trying to avoid the fighting. It's also worth remembering that about two-thirds of the pre-war population of Kherson left the city before the Russians captured it. Thus, a proportion of the remaining population may actually be Russia-leaning (though I still doubt that's a majority, not least once they get to see up-close the less savoury traits of the Russian Army).

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Yeah, if I was a smart, young Russian soldier who was part of the "holding action," I'd look for every opportunity to surrender.

As to the question of why so many civilians are evacuating, I agree with the idea that they are trying to avoid the fighting. It's also worth remembering that about two-thirds of the pre-war population of Kherson left the city before the Russians captured it. Thus, a proportion of the remaining population may actually be Russia-leaning (though I still doubt that's a majority, not least once they get to see up-close the less savoury traits of the Russian Army).

Yeah, I bet the % of Russian-leaning civilians is disproportionately high compared to other Ukrainian cities. And I don't doubt that many thus "evacuated" not only don't want to leave, but will never see their city again. My suspicion is that they will be bargaining chips .. or forced-labor after being "disappeared".

 

[fubar57]

When this is all said and done and Ukraine has reclaimed all lost territory, hold a true "do you want to stay with us or be Russian" referendum in Crimea