Note: this is a combined two-day thread to account for the events regarding the errant missile strike in Przewodow, Poland.
1/6
🔽
11/15
"The Kremlin likely deliberately planned a massive missile strike campaign on Ukraine in anticipation of Zelensky’s speech at the G20 summit given that a multi-direction missile campaign requires significant military preparation."
The coordinated & planned missile strike is similar to previous patterns of wide-scale attacks either in retribution (Kerch Strait Bridge), or for destruction of infrastructure—both civilian and military.
The specific quantity of remaining Russian PGMs is unknown.
3/
@katiasemchuk delivers an impressive and complex story on the challenges of administering justice for forcibly-mobilized Ukrainians.
In war conditions the ability to maintain equal and just treatment under the law is extremely difficult.
1/4
⬇️
“We tried to communicate to [GP] Kostin about the problem that Ukr. citizens are facing horrible sentences under questionable investigation. But I have a feeling that the Prosecutor’s Office is avoiding this subject because it is a difficult matter."
"Prigozhin is taking actions that resonate with a constituency interested in the ideology of Russia’s national superiority, Soviet brutalist strength, and distasteful of the Kremlin’s corruption."
There has been several posts from ISW exploring—at a surface level—emerging divides within the Russian pro-war factions.
#Prigozhin is cited consistently, and it's clear why: a decades- long rise as a shadowy leader, now thrusted to center of attention in the context of war.
2/
To explore more deeply who Prigozhin is, and why he matters, I strongly recommend the @bellingcat three-part investigative series on his ascendance, and how the structures around him have evolved to support that rise.
While Ukraine's inertia has it on the upside, evidence of strain on Western arms stockpiles & production capacity could, eventually, imperial the momentum of AFU operations.
I interpret this as acknowledge of the above fact, and signaling Ukraine to adjust its operational approach in winter.
With current supplies AFU can't reasonably attempt large-scale maneuver ops. long-term (it may prematurely exhaust combat capability before achieving its goals)
"A pro-war #Russian ideologist, Alexander Dugin, openly criticized Putin—whom he referred to as the autocrat—for failing to uphold Russian ideology by surrendering #Kherson City on November 12."
There's a number of overlapping developments within the Russian narrative space, but one thing is increasingly apparent: the loss of Kherson has shattered the narrative of the invasion project. Abridged translation:
There's a few sources here to work with: official, local, and Rus. milbloggers (who either interpret or infer from events). This is an unconfirmed video (Ukrainian origin) accompanying the claim:
"MTR [SOF] on boats trying to cross the #Dnieper."