TheOldGuy @TheOldGuy@social.cleverlibre.org

🔴 IDF: Armed terrorist cells thwarted and numerous weapons located by IDF troops as operations in the Gaza Strip continue

IDF ground troops are continuing to coordinate with the IAF and Israeli Navy in targeted raids on terrorist sites and strikes against terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip.

IDF troops from the Paratroopers Brigade killed dozens of terrorists in Khan Yunis over the past 24 hours. In one incident, the troops encountered an armed terrorist cell and thwarted it. The soldiers also located large quantities of weapons including AK-47 rifles, grenades, and explosive devices.

Furthermore, IDF troops operating in western Khan Yunis encountered three armed terrorists who launched anti-tank missiles at them. The troops killed the terrorists along with several other terror operatives in close-quarters combat. In parallel, IDF soldiers conducted targeted raids on a compound used for combat, where they killed a number of terrorists and located weapons and tunnel shafts.

During another activity in Khan Yunis, IDF troops identified a terrorist in the area. Coordinating with the IAF, the troops targeted and eliminated the terrorist in an aircraft strike. Subsequently, three additional terror operatives were identified in the vicinity and were killed in a strike.

In addition, IDF troops killed a number of terrorists and located weapons and documents belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization.

Attached is a video of the IDF strikes in the Gaza Strip: https://bit.ly/49h54qS

Attached is a video of IDF activity in the Gaza Strip: https://bit.ly/3SKUa7f

Attached are photos from IDF activity in the Gaza Strip: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/anc0702202486542684521

🇮🇱 @israel_report

🟠 Iranian-Backed Houthi Terrorists conduct Multiple Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile Attacks in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden:

On Feb. 6, from approximately 1:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Arabian Standard Time) Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired six anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Three of the ASBMs were attempting to hit MV Star Nasia, a Marshall Island-flagged, Greek owned-and-operated bulk carrier transiting the Gulf of Aden. At approximately 3:20 a.m., MV Star Nasia reported an explosion near the ship causing minor damage but no injuries. At 2 p.m. another missile impacted the water near the ship with no effect. At 4:30 p.m., USS Laboon (DDG 58), operating near MV Star Nasia, intercepted and shot down a third anti-ship ballistic missile fired by the Iranian-backed Houthis. MV Star Nasia remains seaworthy and is continuing toward its destination.

The remaining three ASBMs were likely targeting MV Morning Tide, a Barbados-flagged, UK-owned cargo ship operating in the Southern Red Sea. The three missiles impacted the water near the ship without effect. MV Morning Tide is continuing its journey and is reporting no injuries or damage.

🇮🇱 @israel_report

Nicaragua has filed a new case at the International Court of Justice against Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Canada for their support of Israel through arms.

Much like South Africa, Nicaragua is trying to whitewash its human rights issues by pretending to care for Palestinians.
I'm here to remind you that:

1. During 2017, there were widespread and violent demonstrations against the government of President Daniel Ortega, as a result of these demonstrations, about 300 people were killed and about 500 people were imprisoned. About 60,000 citizens fled the country fearing the measures of the authorities

2. The government has waged a relentless campaign against independent media and journalists, employing harassment, censorship, and the outright revocation of legal statuses to silence critical voices.

3. Political prisoners in Nicaragua are subjected to ill-treatment and torture, showcasing the government's disdain for human dignity.

4. The judiciary in Nicaragua operates as a puppet of the ruling party, undermining the rule of law and the impartial protection of human rights.

5. The government has systematically targeted NGOs and civil society groups, employing legal mechanisms to throttle their operations.

6. Indigenous communities have been subjected to land invasions, violence, and neglect by the government, threatening their survival, culture, and access to natural resources.

A historic first. Unionized college sports

https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/improbable-signs-of-union-ferment?r=70k1h&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Robert Reich

https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/what-kind-of-presidential-candidate?r=70k1h&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

⚔️ Operational information as of 18.00 on 07.02.2024 regarding the Russian invasion

❗️ The main summary:

➡️ At the beginning of the day, the enemy carried out several strikes on the territory of Ukraine, using various means of air attack: attack UAVs, cruise, ballistic and anti-aircraft guided missiles. In total, 64 means of air attack of the enemy were used: 20 attack UAVs of the "Shahed-136/131" type, 29 Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles, 4 Kh-22 cruise missiles, 3 Kalibr sea-based cruise missiles , 3 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 5 S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles. As a result of combat operations, 44 air targets were destroyed by the firepower of the Air Force and the Defense Forces: 26 Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles; 3 Kalibr cruise missiles; 15 attack UAVs of the "Shahed-136/131" type.

➡️ During the day, 80 combat clashes took place. Information on the total number of airstrikes and shelling from rocket launcher systems is being clarified.

➡️ In the Kupyan direction, our defenders repelled 3 attacks near Synkivka, Ivanivka, Kharkiv region, where the enemy tried to break through the defense of our troops.

➡️ In the Lyman direction, our soldiers repulsed 7 attacks near Bilogorivka, Luhansk region, and Terni, Torsky, Donetsk region.

➡️ In the direction of Bakhmut, the Defense Forces repelled 5 attacks in the areas of Ivanivske and Klishchiivka settlements of the Donetsk region.

➡️ In the Avdiivka direction, our defenders repelled 25 attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka and another 9 attacks near Nevelsky, Donetsk region.

➡️ In the Mariinsky direction, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in Krasnohorivka, Georgiivka, Pobieda and Novomykhailivka districts of Donetsk region. Here, the enemy tried to improve the tactical position 20 times.

➡️ The enemy did not conduct offensive (assault) actions in the Shakhtarsky direction.

➡️ In the Zaporizhzhia direction, the Defense Forces repelled 2 attacks west of Verbovoy and Robotiny in the Zaporizhzhia region.

➡️ In the area of responsibility of the "Odesa" anti-aircraft missile defense system in the Kherson direction, the enemy does not give up its intention to knock out Ukrainian units from the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnieper. Thus, during the day, 3 unsuccessful attempts to storm the positions of our troops were made.

🔥 During the day, the aviation of the Defense Forces struck 6 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment of the enemy.

🔥 Units of missile forces struck 3 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment and 2 warehouses of enemy ammunition.

Support the Armed Forces! Let's win together!✊
Glory to Ukraine!🇺🇦

AFU

🇺🇦@ukraine_report🇺🇦🔱

Russian Oil refinery losses.
Update from @ukraine_report

Novoshakhtynskyi, which became the first refinery to be hit in June 2022

Ilsky oil refinery in southern Russia May 5 2023

Afipskyi Krasnodar 29 October 2023

Ryazan 19 January 2024

Novatek energy company oil refinery in Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea. January 21 2024

Yaroslav 29 January 2024 drones taken down by defence

Rosneft’s refinery in Tuapse on the Black Sea. January 25 2024

Lukoil oil refinery Volgograd. February 3 2024

If small drones with no more than 5 kilograms of explosives managed to reach Ust-Luga, which is 620 miles from Ukrainian territory, this means there are a total of eighteen Russian refineries with a combined
capacity of 3.5 million barrels per day (more than half the Russian total) that are possible targets.

Small drones like those used in Ust-Luga can damage not just pipelines, but also compressors, valves, control units, and other pieces of equipment that are tricky to replace because of sanctions.

🇺🇦@ukraine_report🇺🇦🔱Liz

The import of Russian gas into the Czech Republic has sharply increased. It already accounts for more than 60% of supplies — Novinky. cz.

In 2023, the Czech Republic managed to radically reduce gas imports from Russia compared to 2022, to 2% of total imports in the first ten months. However, the situation has changed rapidly since November.

In early December, Russian gas imports to the Czech Republic resumed through the Lanžhot station on the border with Slovakia.

In January, imports of Russian gas reached about 62% of total imports, according to data from NET4GAS and the Czech Statistical Office (CSO).

"The data for November and December are shocking, when the share of Russian gas in total imports rose sharply to 26% and 58%, respectively," says Jiří Pour, an economist at UniCredit Bank.

An informed source told journalists that such a rapid increase could be due to the fact that the gas was stored in Ukrainian storage facilities and is now being imported to the Czech Republic.

However, Pour does not believe that the transit or resale of Russian gas to other countries could have changed the statistics this much.

"Firstly, because the vast majority of imported gas goes to the Czech Republic. Moreover, NET4GAS data for January show that the tendency of gas imports from Russia is not only maintained but also intensified.

This means that Czech imports of natural gas, which improved Russia's balance of payments by almost 8 billion Czech crowns ($344 million) in the last quarter of last year, added an estimated 3 billion Czech crowns ($129 million) to this amount in January," the economist added.

Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela confirmed the growth of imports from October 2023.

The consequences that a Russian victory would entail. OPINION RUSI

The missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, as well as the persistent work of the Russian special services to undermine support for Ukraine in NATO and EU countries – carried out with the help of numerous agents of influence including politicians, journalists and experts in these countries – are both designed to degrade the will to continue the fight.

Ukraine stands fast. In the West, however, both public attitudes and the attitudes of ruling elites are putting at risk the volume of military-technical assistance to Ukraine. The failure of the US government to secure approval from Congress to finance aid to Ukraine for 2024 is an example of the success of Russian efforts.

Assessing the consequences of a complete or even partial victory for Russia: For Ukraine, the consequences are pretty clear. Putin does not hide his genocidal intentions to destroy Ukraine as an independent state and Ukrainians as a separate people.

Increase of refugees
Although the threat to the civilian population remains, Ukrainians prefer to stay in their country, and are even returning. Of the 8 million Ukrainians who fled the war in 2022, only about 4 million remain in Europe. But such a situation is extremely fragile, and depends directly on the provision of aid to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Turning Ukraine into a new Syria:
Even a short-term loss of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's ability to deter Russian aggression will inevitably upend the current equilibrium. Ukrainians will undoubtedly continue the struggle even then, but it will increasingly turn into an irregular insurgent war, it will be practically impossible to keep large territories under Ukrainian control, and even more so to protect the civilian population. Just look at Syria to imagine the nature of such a war. The methodical use of airstrikes and the destruction of resisting cities would not leave Ukraine with much of a chance even in the medium term.

The consequence for the West and especially for the US as the leader of the free world would be no less catastrophic.

Russia fighting US and NATO is the widely spread perception not only in Russia but also in other autocratic states and countries across the Global South. Thus, any situation that can be passed off by Russia as a victory – that is, any achievements resulting from its aggression – will be seen by these countries as a direct defeat of the West and especially the US.

China, Iran and North Korea increasing military growth without the US's image as the leading military power. The Global South will seek special relationships with these countries, displacing the US as an international security broker. This would further undermine the US position and also limit access to their markets, as well as the ability to obtain strategic materials from them.

Forget NATO.
The unwillingness of the US to provide Ukraine with enough weapons to win the war with Russia, even without raising troop at a low cost, calls into question the US’s readiness to protect individual NATO countries from aggression.

The withdrawal of the US from Europe, the principal goal of first the Soviets and now Russia, would immediately be capitalised upon by Russia and China. For the US, the loss of Europe equals losing the status of leader of the free world. Together with the loss of European markets, it would mean the inevitable end of the era of US politics, military and economical dominance.

Read all

@freerussia_report

🕯️ One of Ukraine's strongest men, world and European powerlifting champion Oleksandr Bilokon, died in the war, — Youth and Sports Committee.

In 2017, 26-year-old Oleksandr was working in the Kobzov circus and was a third-grade disabled person. Despite this, the athlete managed to lift a weight of 15.7 tonnes by 47 cm, of which 13.3 tonnes was the weight of the truck and the rest was the weight of people.

In 2020, Oleksandr Bilokon became a master of sports in heroic games. In the same year, the athlete took first place in the finals for the title of "The Strongest Man of Ukraine 2020" in the 95 kg weight category.

In 2021, the Strongman First League Finals 2021 took place in Bila Tserkva at the Trudovi Rezervy Stadium, where seven of the strongest men from all over Ukraine competed in the final competition of the season. It was Oleksandr who set the Ukrainian record for truck pulling.

Oleksandr joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the spring of 2023.

May he rest in peace...

The Clock Is Ticking As Ukraine Destroys More Russian Vehicles, Faster. - Forbes

On each of 705 days since Russia widened its war on Ukraine, Russian forces on average have lost—destroyed, abandoned or captured—19 tanks, fighting vehicles, howitzers or other heavy weapons.

On Saturday, they lost at least 54. Another 16 were damaged. It was one of the worst days of the war for Moscow.

Open-source analyst Andrew Perpetua, who tallies vehicles losses and publishes a daily list, noted the tragic record on Sunday, after adding up Saturday’s losses. “It’s the most I've ever found in a day,” he wrote.

Ukrainian losses were light: nine vehicles destroyed, abandoned or captured and other 21 damaged.

Worse for the Russians, their losses included 16 tanks and a staggering 29 fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, while Ukraine’s losses mostly were trucks and civilian vehicles the military apparently was using for supply runs. The Ukrainians lost two tanks and a single APC.

The obvious question is whether this loss-rate is sustainable for the Kremlin. The obvious answer is: no. As production of new armored vehicles continues to lag, the Russians still mostly ride in older Cold War-vintage vehicles they’ve pulled out of long-term storage. And these reserves are finite.

So far this year the Russians are losing more and more vehicles, faster than ever. For example the monthly loss-rate for BMPs is approaching 400 (while production of new BMPs remained steady at 30- 40/month).
Five times the rate observed in 2022 and 2023. At the current rate, Russia doesn’t have a two-year reserve of fighting vehicles, but maybe a six-month reserve. The uptick
in losses—to levels that are far beyond sustainable for Russian forces—also is evident among tanks and APCs

Read more

@freerussia_report

They knocked down the early warning plane. It didn't get an early warning

https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukraine-s-air-forces-destroy-a-50-aircraft-making-history-50390021.html

Presidents 1 through 44 did not mind not having total immunity. President 46 has no problem with it. Only President IQ 45 has a problem with it.

https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/donald-trump-is-out-of-gas-8/54422/

Warren Buffet's son gave 500 million to Ukraine. Only 7 COUNTRIES have given more.

https://omaha.com/news/local/friend-of-ukraine-warren-buffetts-son-provides-500-million-in-humanitarian-aid/article_7f51e7ea-c051-11ee-8e8f-d7189cf2c604.html

Terrorist country this morning carried out another attack on Ukraine:

🔴Kyiv. Fire in a multi-storey building. 2 high-voltage lines were damaged. Four dead and 35 wounded are known;

🔴Kharkiv. There is damage to non-residential infrastructure;

🔴Mykolaiv. About 20 houses and water supply networks were damaged. There are wounded and dead;

🔴In the Lviv region, there is a hit at an industrial facility. Partial destruction of the building was recorded. There is a fire on an area of ​​about 300 m².

Zelenskyi responded to the mass attacks this morning.

"Another mass attack against our state. Six regions were under enemy attack. All our services are now working to deal with the consequences of this terror.

In Mykolaiv, dozens of residential buildings were destroyed, one person died. In Kyiv, more than ten people were injured, as of now, two deaths are known. There may be people under the rubble. Some communications, including high-voltage cables, were damaged in the capital. Work is ongoing to restore everything as soon as possible.

Two people were injured in Kharkiv region, one person was rescued. In the Lviv region, rescuers are working on the spot.

My condolences to all those who have lost family and friends. We will certainly respond to Russia - terrorists will always feel the consequences of their actions.

Thanks to all our doctors, rescuers, communal services. Thank you to everyone who cares about our state, saves and helps people."

My house cat is outside today. It's that warm. In the 50s approaching 60.

From "The Analyst":

AVDIVKA

It was not a good day for Russia. Many of the troops caught in the south west pocket began to surrender and it is slowly but steadily being erased from the map. Probably one of Russia’s biggest and most daring operations collapses under the weight of their own incompetence. It could have been decisive. Instead it ends in ignominy.
To the north the whining of T-80M turbine engines passes by terrified Russian troops until they realise they’re on their side, shells and rifle shots ring out constantly. Then the FPV drones circle back in under the skilled command of their Ukrainian operators - one hits the engine bay right behind the turret and disables it, the second explodes in the top of the turret as the crew try to escape and the whole things goes up in flames.
Around the ruins of Stepove M-1 Abram’s of the 47th and Bradley’s suppress any attempt by the Russians to make further advances.
In the town itself Ukrainian soldiers in SUV’s try desperately to get an old lady to leave her ruined house. Artillery has hit and destroyed her neighbourhood.
In an almost comedic moment only tarnished by the obvious urgency and the tragedy, she can’t find her cat and when she does it violently resists trying to be put in the carry cage the soldiers brought with them. As she gets in the car, virtually shoved in, as they have been there too long, a dog jumps into the SUV door. “Is that yours?” Asked the soldier. “No,” said the woman, “he just jumped in he must be somebodies though”. They drive off at speed north. In the
back of the truck the old lady, seeing the ruins, says with as much bile as she can muster, “Curses on the people who did this, a million curses.”

Just another rescue mission and another tragic day in Putin’s war. He did this. And he doesn’t give a damn.
He will be defeated eventually. Tyranny will not stand.

Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦!

A group of U.S. ambassadors in South Korea, China, Japan and other Indo-Pacific countries has sent a letter to Congress, urging lawmakers to act quickly to pass legislation on assistance to Ukraine, Israel and others in the Pacific, a White House official said Tuesday.

John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, revealed the delivery of the letter written by nine U.S. ambassadors, underscoring the importance of the congressional passage of President Joe Biden's national security supplemental funding request.

"The ambassadors wrote about how many countries in the Indo-Pacific are intently focused on the conflicts in Ukraine (and) in the Middle East," Kirby said during an online press briefing.

"Russia's growing strategic partner(ship) with the People's Republic of China, military support from Iran and North Korea ... our support for Ukraine and the potential termination of that support at such a decisive moment here in these winter months will fundamentally affect not just Ukraine, but other strategic theaters as well, obviously, to include the Indo-Pacific theater," he added.

The letter came amid concerns that failure to pass the funding package for Ukraine, Israel and border security could raise questions over America's defense commitments to regional allies and partners

"The governments of US allies are watching what we are doing at this pivotal moment in history - a time when the decisions we make now will have long-term consequences for years to come," their letter noted.

Daily losses

https://t.me/WarriorsUkrainian/20659