I obtained a russian document titled "Regulation on Storm Units Z of the 8th Combined Arms Army." This document outlines the objectives, organization, and logistical requirements of 'Storm Z' units. After analyzing its contents, I have distilled the main points.
2/ The document defines "Storm Z" Company as an independent, joint, tactical, combined-arms company temporarily created outside the regular army corps unit structure for immediate operational use in performing particularly complex combat missions.
3/ The document outlines a request to establish 'Storm Z' companies within the following units:
Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades: 1st, 9th, 110th, 114th of the 1st Army Corps
Motorized Rifle Regiments(150th division): 102nd, 103rd
4/ Tank Regiments(150th division): 68th, 163rd
Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades: 4th, 6th, 7th, 110th, 123rd, 132nd.
5/ The composition of the company (or detachment) has a flexible structure that varies depending on the received combat mission, the situational conditions, the terrain, and other factors, and is completed with the necessary number of personnel
6/ "Storm Company Z" (100 personnel) structure:
4x Capture Squad (10 personnel each)
4x Fire Support Squad (10 personnel each)
1x Company Command (2 personnel)
1x Combat Engineering Group (5 personnel)
1x Reconnaissance Group (8 personnel)
8/ The goals of the Storm 'Z' company are:
• To conduct combat operations in a city (settlement) or areas with difficult geographical conditions.
• To capture important objects such as strongholds, command posts, communication centers, buildings, structures
9/ • To carry out sabotage operations in territories controlled by the enemy.
• To search for and destroy sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
10/ • To block structures and eliminate enemy forces within them.
• To adjust artillery fire and air support
11/ It should be noted that the servicemen who join the Storm-Z unit are granted a status equivalent to that of "BARS" volunteers, and they receive a salary of 205,000 rubles per month for the duration of their contract.
12/ GROUP TRAINING
The training and coordination of Z Company typically requires 10 to 15 days and is conducted in three stages.
During the first stage, the focus is on restoring military personnel's proficiency in various skills, including weapons handling, first aid,
13/ camouflage, shelter preparation, reconnaissance, and communication. The training also includes specialized instruction for UAV operators and mine and booby trap deployment and removal.
14/ The second stage of training involves squad coordination, with a focus on joint actions of military personnel in combat pairs, trios, and squads. It includes self-help and mutual assistance, mutual fire cover, radio communication,
15/ and preparation for coordinated actions during marches, urban assault, capturing fortified points, and securing gains.
The third stage of training involves the coordination of platoons, with a main focus on preparing them for conducting assault operations
16/ and coordinated joint actions during marches, urban assaults, capturing fortified points, and securing gains.
It is noteworthy that Company Z includes inmates, and there are particular regulations concerning their participation, which I will cover in the Part II.
17/ Kindly ensure to like and follow, as Twitter algorithms tend to demote content related to war and Ukraine, so you do not miss the second part.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Since January, 21 of Russia’s 38 major refineries, facilities that process crude into fuels such as gasoline and diesel, have been hit, a new BBC Verify investigation found. The tally of successful attacks is already 48% higher than the total for all of 2024. 🧵Thread:
2/ BBC analysis shows reported attacks hit a record in August, when Ukrainian drones targeted 14 refineries, followed by eight more in September. Some of the strikes reached facilities deep inside Russia.
3/ In late September, the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat refinery in Bashkortostan was struck twice. Satellite images showed smoke rising from the facility, which sits more than 1,100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Russia is exploiting economic struggles in developing nations, luring thousands of Africans with promises of escaping poverty - only for many to end up KIA or missing. Key findings from Frontelligence Insight’s analysis of unique mercenary records in Africa and the Middle East:
2/ According to available data, Egypt is the leading contributor, with 291 documented cases. While the full roster of mercenaries remains incomplete, Egyptians make up nearly 25% of the more than 1200 records we have manually reviewed.
3/ We requested materials from the Ukrainian project @hochuzhit_com, which deals with POWs from all countries fighting for Russia, to see whether they have matching documents. Their records confirmed several individuals have been listed in Russia as missing in action:
Russia’s military rearmament, especially weapon production numbers, reveals much about its future plans. These numbers are usually hidden in classified documents, a problem Frontelligence Insight, with help from insiders, has solved. For the first time, we can share some of them:
2/ Before the release of the documents, spoilers of which an attentive eye may already have found in the image, we ask our followers to click the notify button in the profile so you don’t miss it. Many have reported that after updates, they don't see posts from those they follow
3/ While we prepare our X release, we invite everyone to read our latest research, based on tens of thousands of personal records of Russian deserters, published yesterday, but something you might have completely missed with the new “better” algorithms.
It’ll be like the Chechen war - said one mobilized soldier. Even if it ends, our leader will thank and leave. A new one will say: I never promised you anything. Back home they’ll say: We never sent you.
One of many remarks gathered by Verstka from mobilized Russians. 🧵Thread:
2/ Russian media outlet Verstka has interviewed dozens of mobilized. Three years in, most express regret and little desire to continue. “There aren’t many patriots here. Almost everyone just wants to go home,” said another mobilized
3/ Here are some more statements from mobilized:
- I wish I could go back three years and tear up that draft notice. I’d rather take a suspended sentence than have spent all this time fighting and suffering. Every day out here has felt like a waste of my life
It’ll be like the Chechen war - said one mobilized soldier. Even if it ends, our leader will thank and leave. A new one will say: I never promised you anything. Back home they’ll say: We never sent you.
One of many remarks gathered by Verstka from mobilized Russians. 🧵Thread:
2/ Russian media outlet Verstka has interviewed dozens of mobilized. Three years in, most express regret and little desire to continue. “There aren’t many patriots here. Almost everyone just wants to go home,” said another mobilized
3/ Here are some more statements from mobilized:
- I wish I could go back three years and tear up that draft notice. I’d rather take a suspended sentence than have spent all this time fighting and suffering. Every day out here has felt like a waste of my life
Russia’s government plans to raise the value-added tax from 20% to 22%, breaking Putin’s pledge not to increase taxes before 2030. The budget deficit has already widened to ₽4.2 trillion ($50 billion), or 1.9% of GDP, as revenues decline with falling oil prices, reports the FT:
2/ This is the second direct tax increase since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
For the full year, the finance ministry expects the deficit to reach ₽5.7 trillion, or 2.6% of GDP, Interfax reported, citing a draft budget law not yet published in full.
3/ Oil and gas sales, which once made up nearly half of Russia’s budget, are expected to account for no more than 22% of revenue next year, according to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. He said last week that Russia aims to lower the break-even oil price for its budget.