I continue to focus on the western media’s propaganda campaign to persuade American politicians and civilians that the billions of dollars in military equipment and aid that Washington is pouring into Ukraine is turning the tide against the Russian onslaught because it is so fundamentally dishonest.
Two of the leading fabulists masquerading as journalists at the New York Times–i.e., Eric Schmitt and Helene Cooper–trotted out their latest cannister of lipstick in another desperate effort to paint the pig in Ukraine. Their article, The ‘MacGyvered’ Weapons in Ukraine’s Arsenal, is rife with deception and convenient memory loss.
Let us start with casualties. Schmitt and Cooper claim:
After six months of war, the death toll on both sides is high: While American officials estimate that up to 80,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded, Ukraine’s outgunned military has said it is losing 100 to 200 troops a day. Even so, the engineering ingenuity of the Ukrainians lies in stark contrast to the slow, plodding, doctrinal nature of the Russian advance.
Wow. That means Ukraine is really hammering the Russians. Right? Well, not so fast. Here is what Ukrainian officials said just two months ago:
Up to 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are being killed or wounded each day in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, with 200 to 500 killed on average and many more wounded, a top Ukrainian official said on Wednesday.
That report caused a bit of consternation in Washington and NATO headquarters. The Ukrainian Command was told to stop telling the truth about casualties and switched their messaging to citing smaller losses. However, since ousting the Ukrainian forces from Lysychansk in June, the Russians have advanced 50 miles to the west and now surround several key towns, including Bakhmut and Soledar and Ukrainian forces have retreated. Who says? The Ukrainian General Staff:
At Bakhmut direction Russian artillery and tanks shelled Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Soledar, Shumy, Vesela Dolyna, Yakovlivka, Mayorsk and Zaitseve. Russian aviation conducted airstrike near Kodema, – General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraine says in the morning report
Here is the video evidence of Russian troops inside Kodema today, which is located a few miles south of Bakhmut:
Russian troops are not being shelled by an unrelenting bombardment of Ukrainian artillery. Actually, the troops pushing the assault from the Donetsk People’s Republic. There are sporadic, un-sustained attacks against the Russian forces, but these are not mass casualty events. It is Russia that is hitting Ukrainian positions on a daily basis with thousands of artillery rounds, air launched rockets and TOS 1A curtains of fire.
For its part, the Russian Ministry of Defense reports killing more than 500 Ukrainian troops in operations carried out on August 27:
High-precision weapons strikes of the Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed the temporary deployment point of 95th Airborne Assault Brigade of AFU in Slavyansk, Donetsk People’s Republic. The attacks have resulted in the elimination of up to 150 nationalists, as well as 10 units of weapons and military equipment.
Allied Forces offensive in Donetsk direction have resulted in losses of 204th Battalion of 241st Territorial Defence Brigade near Artemovsk exceeding 60 per cent of its personnel. The command of Liman task force has withdrawn brigade units from the combat area to Kiev to be re-staffed.
High-precision strike near Slavyansk in Donetsk People’s Republic has eliminated more than 100 nationalists trained at AFU reserve training centre.
Who is telling the truth? I ask two simple questions–who is falling back and who is advancing? The answers also are simple–Ukraine forces that are not killed in Slavyansk are abandoning their positions and withdrawing while Russia continues to press forward.
Schmitt and Cooper cite a Pentagon official who insists that U.S. supplied HARM missiles are wreaking havoc:
A senior Pentagon official said Ukrainian forces had put American-supplied HARM anti-radiation missiles on Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighter jets — something that no air force had ever done. The American HARM missile, designed to seek and destroy Russian air defense radar, is not usually compatible with the MiG-29 or the other fighter jets in Ukraine’s arsenal.
But the Russian MOD tells a different story:
28 projectiles of multiple-launch rocket systems Olha and HIMARS have been intercepted near Ol’ginka, Novotroitskoye in Donetsk People’s Republic, Chernobaevka in Kherson Region, Antonovskyi and Dariyevskyi bridges, and over Kakhovskaya HPP.
In addition, 1 Tochka-U ballistic missile has been shot down in the air near Novaya Kakhovka, Kherson Region.
We have seen no evidence that Ukraine has any comparable air defense capability and is thwarting Russian attacks. Russia, in stark contrast, is regularly shooting down HARMs, HIMMARS and Bayrakter drones. It does have a robust air defense system that is deployed at the front.
One Russian source explains that the slow pace of advance is out of a desire to minimize the casualties of the Dontesk militia and their Russian counterparts:
The slow pace of advancement in the Avdeevka direction is due to the desire to save the infantry. The main role in the battle for Avdiivka is assigned to the tactics of the “barrage” – massive artillery strikes aimed at the complete destruction of the enemy’s manpower and positions.
The absence of civilians in settlements along the Donetsk Ring Road allows artillery units of the RF Armed Forces and the NM of the DPR to conduct indiscriminate continuous fire, literally burning and leveling the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In Pesky alone, according to Ukrainian field commanders, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost more than half a thousand people killed alone. The Ukrainian side is holding positions along the Ring Road, literally filling the front line with corpses that no one takes out. The bodies of Ukrainian servicemen are decomposing right on the positions.
What would be compelling evidence of Ukrainian success? How about having embedded western reporters accompanying Ukrainian troops who are chasing retreating Russian units? We are not seeing that. During the Vietnam War, U.S. correspondents were on the front lines with U.S. military personnel. The results of battles were recorded in writing and in video clips. Those reports ultimately played a role in persuading the American public that the military triumph over the North Vietnamese being proclaimed by the Pentagon was a pack of lies. Fifty years later we are witnessing the Pentagon parading lies about alleged Ukrainian success in order to try to maintain domestic support for a losing cause.
The absence of daily front line reports from journalists on the ground showing Ukrainian advances is a critical intelligence indicator of who is winning the battles in the Donbas. When a journalist has to rely on the boasts and spin from a Pentagon official to “prove” success in Ukraine, it is one more piece of evidence that Ukraine is in trouble.
This is all absolute madness. The blood that on the hands of the US/UK/EU political leadership [sic] is sickening.
There will be a steep price to be paid on this hopefully soon.
Agree completely.
I understand why you included ” hopefully. “
No there won’t, not unless the sheep grow some balls.
The recipe to grow balls it to watch this 3 a day till you understand where 1500 of civilization got you: https://rumble.com/v1h1ga5-donbass-extreme-swinery-en-route-to-the-winery-special-reportage-part-22.html
There will be a price to be paid, but not by the warmonger Western politicians who are responsible. These politicians will likely retire with a good pension or get another well paid job. The price will be paid by the citizens.
No price for the guilty.
Price will be paid by victims and ordinary people in the attacking countries.
The leadership will get away with it.
Yeah I know, possibly time to rethink how we approach this sort of thing.
These are legitimate war crimes and need to be treated as such.
Hey!!
What about us Aussie’s.
Don’t leave out Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
I fully agree, as a UK citizen I am thoroughly ashamed of what my government and the rest are doing and hope they all (Johnson in particular) get what is coming for them sooner rather than later. So many lives needlessly lost on both sides.
NATO ready to attack a Nuclear plant to ethnically cleanse Russians from Ukraine – George Eliason
“Why is Zelensky shelling a Nuclear plant? The war will end and money stream will dry up. If Ukraine sets off a Nuclear explosion (3 times that of Chernobyl) funding opportunities increase and are guaranteed for 100 years during clean-up operations. This IS the thought behind the process. Bankrupting EU and US while ensuring disappearance of Russians and Russian speakers in the region.”
https://youtu.be/N_0yXg1RfvE
Hey!!
What about us Aussie’s.
Don’t leave out Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
When I get this good information and tell people the truth, they say, “Is there anything Russia did wrong? Why don’t you talk about it? Your story is not balanced.” Then I have to force myself to create one and keep it balanced.
Thanks for your great Analysis, Larry.
Ruslan Puchow, a kind of your Russian-Counterpart, seems to tell a completely different story (sorry, I did not find a Englisch version):
https://konflikteundsicherheit.wordpress.com/2022/08/14/russischer-verteidigungsexperte-ruslan-puchow-im-interview-zum-ukraine-krieg-ungleicher-kampf-der-gladiatoren/
Any idea about this?
Where I live any previous mention of the SMO was ….Russia bad.
Now there is an eerie silence. I press the point about Russian POW s getting tortured. Embarrassed silence.
When the sheep are welfare dependent at every level of society they accept propaganda willingly. Just keep the money coming.
When the freebies stop the pitch forks of righteousness rage will erupt across the West. How will it sound? …”How dare you.” (stop the welfare)
Larry old fella, you will never be a prophet in your own land. However it’s a big planet and many people of many lands appreciate your words of wisdom. I just wish you and the Salty Bear could get a job at the pentagon advising the next President.( A man and without guilt, a clean skin and normal kids.)
Here is a look from the Ukrainian side by a reporter:
https://thescrum.substack.com/p/weaponry-for-sale
Patient queues for the gallows
Sing the praises of the hallowed
Our machines feed the furnace
If they take us they will burn us
Knife Edge- Emerson, Lake & Palmer 1970
Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerer of death’s construction
In the fields, the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
Oh lord, yeah!
Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor, yeah
Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait till their judgement day comes, yeah!
Now in darkness, world stops turning
Ashes where their bodies burning
No more war pigs have the power
Hand of God has struck the hour
Day of judgement, God is calling
On their knees, the war pigs crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan laughing, spreads his wings
Oh lord, yeah!
War Pigs-Black Sabbath
Fantastic band.
Fantastic song.
It really is poetry.
It was written in 1970 and it seems ageless, I wonder why.
The war pig then, the USA, is the same war pig now. The more things change the more they stay the same.
Clear the battlefield and let me see
All the profit from our victory
Tarsus- Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Man alone, born of stone
Will stamp the dust of time
His hands strike the flame of his soul
Ties a rope to a tree and hangs the Universe
Until the winds of laughter blows cold
Fear that rattles in men’s ears
And rears its hideous head
Dread …. Death …. in the wind ….
Man of steel pray and kneel
With fever’s blazing torch
Thrust in the face of the night
Draws a blade of compassion
Kissed by countless Kings
Whose jewelled trumpet words blind his sight
Walls that no man thought would fall
The altars of the just
Crushed …. Dust …. in the wind ….
No man yields who flies in my ship
Danger!
Let the bridge computer speak
Stranger!
Load your program. I am yourself
No computer stands in my way
Only blood can cancel my pain
Guardians of a nuclear dawn
Let the maps of war be drawn
Rejoice! Glory is ours!
Our young men have not died in vain
Their graves need no flowers
The tapes have recorded their names
I am all there is
Negative! Primitive! Limited! I let you live!
But I gave you life
What else could you do?
To do what was right
I’m perfect! Are you?
Karn Evil 9 – 3rd Impression: Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
More lipstick, a Ukrainian being interviewed on CNN told them that their offensive in the south will not be a conventional [successful] one. That they are steadily building forces rather than rushing to attack and are using sabotage to strike Russia deep behind their lines.
The great Kherson offensive will be declared a success as long as Ukraine hits one ammo dump a week.
—————— separate question ————–
How many troops does Ukraine have to lose before their defenses collapse?
If things are really going badly for them then at some point they will not be able to keep pouring men and material into the meat grinder. Russia did they they were going to take both Oblasts, not just one.
No reporters accompanying Ukraine front-line troops? Why should they risk their lives?
Like Obama, they’ve got a phone and a pen, so they can move mountains with their prose style. The reporters are as corrupt as the politicians, adhering to The Narrative without taking any risks. It assures their position in the establishment.
Facts inconvenient to The Narrative will always be ignored.
From the first line of the article:
“includes some of the most advanced and lethal weapons systems in the world”
which has been ineffective. Not a good sales pitch for third world countries.
As Russia defense systems against these weapons diffuses (ok sells) to other countries, US will foreign policy – threats rather than diplomacy – will become increasingly constrained.
So clearly a massive new investment in wonderwaffen is called for! After all, when a strategy fails the solution is to try again and again and again.
Thanks LJ, but I wonder what the western narrative will be after Russia would have totally scooped out its territory of choice. Poor them
Larry, since you’ve been in Argentina and you’ve been in the intelligence community, I hope you just have a smile at how obvious your ex colleagues in the Buenos Aires Embassy are…
As a layman, I’ve always suspected La Nación to be a mouthpiece from the Department of State, but they used to be more subtle.
https://www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/ucrania-lanza-una-esperada-contraofensiva-en-el-sur-del-pais-y-anuncia-el-inicio-del-fin-de-la-nid29082022/
Think China 1936-39, think Korea. Ukraine wins because Putin has not. This war is designed to go on infintintum.
“American exceptionalism” projected onto Ukraine while the Green Zone in Baghdad that erupted into gunfire yesterday is being evacuated.
I understand American applications for immigration to Russia are rapidly increasing?
Hi Larry, from Australia. Just thought I would share with you a piece by the senior columnist of the Sydney Morning Herald, which rivals the idiocy you describe above and also Simon Tisdall’s recent absurdities in the Guardian:
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/putin-s-failures-exposed-by-the-men-forced-to-fight-his-war-20220829-p5bdi4.html
It is almost as bad as the ravings of the in-house military expert:
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/ukraine-can-win-this-war-on-these-five-conditions-20220817-p5bajr.html
This is the standard of ‘analysis’ we enjoy Down Under. We used to have some balance from the national broadcaster (ABC, which also employs Mr Ryan for ‘expert’ military commentary – he’s enjoying a good war) but it is if anything worse on Ukraine.
I appreciate the dose of realism that you and people like Martynov, Ritter and Schryver provide at this time when the ‘free press’ of the West has become the propaganda wing of NATO. Stay well.
So how many Russian forces are dead till today ? I heard Scott Ritter claiming that leaked documents from Ukraine defence to Americans, showing up to 250 thousand DEAD.
Here is the video of Scott Ritter, worth to watch all;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo02ZZOAHcI&t=591s
Definitely worth watching/listening, but I did not hear any number of casualties. In any case, Russian casualties of that scale (note its DPR/LGR doing most of the ground fighting) would have caused Russia to mobilize, which hasn’t. So what unnamed disinformation source are you using for information?
Hi,
I think the billions of dollars spent are making a significant difference for the Ukrainians. Will this be enough – probably not.
I read an article in the Bulgarian media (I’m a Bulgarian) that my country has exported 4,200 tons of ammo to Ukraine at a cost of 1 bln euros.
The article says its mostly 120mm, 130mm and 155mm shells. I don’t know how much shells of each type, but I assume the lighest are the most commonly used and 130 mm are not so common, and made some calculations based on assumptions and google search how much they weight:
120mm x 19.8 kg assuming they are 65% of exports = 2,730 tons or 137, 879 shells
130 mm x 33.40 kg assuming they are 10% of exports = 420 tons or 12,575 shells
155mm x 43.20 kg assuming they are 25% of exports = 1,050 tons or 24,306 shells
Total 100% of exports = 4,200 tons or 174,760 shells
Businessinsider says Ukraine uses 6000 shells per day so it turns out only Bulgaria’s aid supported the Ukrainian war effort (for the artillery) for a whole month at a cost of 1 bln euro. Which doen’t seem that bad, considering the type of fighting occurring there.
I don’t know what is the situation with the rest of the money flowing there – I just think this really makes difference in the war. I’m not pro-Russian, just stating some info that is not in the English-speaking media.
Here’s a link to the original, you can machine translate the whole piece if you want https://www.mediapool.bg/bivshiyat-shef-na-kinteks-za-chetiri-mesetsa-sa-izneseni-nad-4200-tona-orazhiya-za-ukraina-news338443.html
Has anyone else noticed the number of Chechen soldiers being flown into the Donbas area to support the DPR and LPR forces?
A recent Russian military transport aircraft recently flew in what must have been around 300-400 Chechen soldiers on 30 August 2022. The roughly 300-400 Chechen soldiers are volunteers.
Bad news for the Ukronazis.