JRL NEWSWATCH: “Pentagon opens sweeping review of clandestine psychological operations” – Washington Post

Montage of Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Logos, adapted from image at nps.gov

“Complaints about the U.S. military’s influence operations using Facebook and Twitter have raised concern in the White House and federal agencies.” “The Pentagon has ordered a sweeping audit of how it conducts clandestine information warfare after major social media companies identified and took offline fake accounts suspected of being run by the U.S. military ….  [T]he White House and some […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Rout in Ukraine fuels debate in Russia: Ease up or double down?” – Christian Science Monitor

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“The rout of Russian forces in Kharkiv reignited debate in Moscow over what to do next. While critics of the war have found new voice, even louder are those calling for escalation in Ukraine.” “Ukraine’s lightning offensive in Kharkiv last week recaptured a large swath of territory and humiliated the Russian army. … [I]t ignited a very public debate in […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Pro-Moscow Officials in Occupied Ukraine to Hold Referendums on Joining Russia” – Moscow Times

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

(Moscow Times – Sept. 20, 2022) Authorities in separatist- and Russia-occupied regions of Ukraine on Tuesday said they will stage referendums on formally joining Russia in a matter of days. The announcement comes as Moscow’s forces face continued setbacks in their nearly seven-month war against Kyiv, with a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the northeast dealing a heavy blow to the Russian […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin’s Next Move in Ukraine; Mobilize, Retreat, or Something in Between?” – Foreign Affairs

European Portion of Commonwealth of Independent States

“For the first time in the war … Putin must contend with the serious prospect of losing …. [T]he near rout of Russian soldiers in the Kharkiv region … and … rapid reconquest by Ukrainian forces … clearly showed … Ukraine was on top … destroy[ing] the illusion of Russian invincibility. … Suddenly, Western leaders and strategists have been able […]

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JRL NEWSLINK: “We Fight How We Can’: Russian Views on Ukraine’s Counteroffensive — How It Happened and What Comes Next” – Russia Matters

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

After Russian forces suffered their worst setback in months—driven from key towns by Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region—much of the response in Russia’s pro-war camp this week fell into three categories: spin, spleen and silence. The Kremlin mostly kept mum, minimizing Ukraine’s achievements even as Kyiv claimed it had liberated more than 2,000 square miles and vowed to press […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “U.S. expects months of intense fighting in Ukraine-Russia war” – Washington Post

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“… U.S. officials expect intense fighting … as both sides attempt to put themselves in the best possible position before … winter makes transport and combat more difficult. Russian forces still control vast sections of Ukraine … and U.S. officials anticipate Putin may use the coldest months to refit his spent, demoralized military before launching a renewed campaign in the […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Getting the job done; Vladimir Putin’s war is failing. The West should help it fail faster” – The Economist

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“… Ukraine has also recaptured two transport hubs, Izyum and Kupyansk, which Russia needs … to complete its conquest of the Donbas …. [] Putin’s plans to stage phoney ‘referendums’ … [in] parts of southern and eastern Ukraine are now on hold, as Ukraine counter-attacks in both areas. … Russia’s occupation is everywhere held in check, and Ukraine is … […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Fear Grips Russian Border Towns Amid Ukrainian Offensive” – Moscow Times

European Portion of Commonwealth of Independent States

(Moscow Times – Leyla Latypova – Sept. 15, 2022) Russians living in areas near the Ukrainian border are voicing growing concern as Kyiv’s counteroffensive around the northeastern city of Kharkiv has brought Ukrainian forces to Russia’s doorstep, according to posts on local social media groups. “I’d like to find out how secure the residents of Shebekino are as a result […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “In Russian Border City, Pro-Kremlin Ukrainians, Soldiers Regroup After Retreat From Ukraine” – WSJ

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“Belgorod is on edge after Moscow’s forces vacate northeastern Ukraine. ‘We ourselves don’t understand what happened.’” “… Russian troops occupying … [Kharkiv] towns … promised locals they would stay forever. Instead, Ukrainian forces drove Russian troops out of most of the region this month, retaking about 3,500 square miles of territory in … days. The lightning advance left Russian troops […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Kremlin Must Placate Its Supporters Amid Outrage Over Kharkiv Retreat” – Carnegie Endowment for Endowment Peace

File Image of Laptop Computer, Tables and Mobile Device, adapted from image at energy.gov

“Having radicalized Russian ultra-patriots with imperialist slogans and actions, the Kremlin now risks its most vitriolic supporters turning against it.” “… Active Russian supporters of the war … blame their country’s military leadership …. demanding … Putin take decisive action … even questioning how serious his intentions in Ukraine really are. … [Invading] Ukraine, Putin won over … ultra-patriots and […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ukrainians Move to Unravel Russian Occupation in Recaptured Villages; Residents have wasted no time in erasing the marks of Russia’s presence” – WSJ

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“… Within days, Moscow lost more territory than it … gained in months of grinding combat … more than 3,500 square miles … as Ukrainian forces seized the initiative. … [M]ost were celebrating[;] those who collaborated with the Russians were lying low … or … on the run. … In towns and villages retaken by Ukraine, residents … wasted no […]

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Russia ‘Not Discussing’ Mass Military Mobilization, Kremlin Says

Kremlin and River

(Moscow Times – Sept. 13, 2022) Russia is not planning to declare a mass national draft for the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin said Tuesday. The denial comes amid growing speculation that Russia may be looking to reverse its flagging fortunes in its six-month invasion of Ukraine by declaring mass mobilization and shoring up its apparent military manpower shortage. “Not […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Vladimir Putin’s total defeat is now within reach; Liz Truss and her Foreign Secretary will have to work hard to maintain Western unity in coming months” – The Telegraph (UK)

European Portion of Commonwealth of Independent States

“… [With] Russian forces … in a desperate battle to hold … the meagre gains … made … since … Putin launched the invasion, the Kremlin’s propaganda machine is continuing its attempt to indoctrinate the Russian people … [into believing that] Moscow is vanquishing its foes. … [S]tate-controlled news channels … pump out a Panglossian view of the Ukrainian conflict […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russians ‘fled like Olympic sprinters’ as Ukraine retook north-east; Offensive was months in the making and relied on western military equipment” – Financial Times

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“[A] Ukrainian commander … [says] gritty determination, careful planning and astute use of limited western military equipment … [are the reasons for] … Ukrainian troops … liberat[ing] 3,000 square kilometres in … six days …. Many Ukrainians hope the rout could mark a turning point …. [reportedly] push[ing] Russian forces back to within 50km of the border in the north-east[]  […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia’s Ukraine Setbacks: Putin’s threats and scramble for arms show he’s under pressure” – Wall Street Journal

European Portion of Commonwealth of Independent States

“Russia’s war against Ukraine seems to have taken a modest turn in Ukraine’s favor … [O]ne sign is … Putin’s new threats and his scramble for arms from his own client states. Russia expected its February blitzkrieg to end in … quick victory, but … has bogged down … Ukraine is now pressing a[] [southern] offensive … aimed at busting […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin Forces ‘Confused’ by Ukraine Strikes, Headed for Surrender: General” – Newsweek

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“… Ukrainian forces have launched a counteroffensive to take back … critical port city [Kherson]. … [Videotaped] footage [reportedly] indicated ‘extremely poor soldier discipline’ and “horrible fieldcraft/training’ in the Russian army. … [with] lower-level leadership … in crisis while senior leaders were not circulating information …. [Reportedly Russian] morale was plunging and the potential for disease … rising …. [Retired […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin’s Bombers Could Devastate Ukraine But He’s Holding Back. Here’s Why” – Newsweek

European Portion of Commonwealth of Independent States

“… U.S. observers agree[] that Putin and his generals overestimated their own military prowess while grossly underestimating Ukraine’s defenses. … [Meanwhile,] Russia, [a] DIA analyst [suggests], has … been careful not to cause escalation onto Belorussian or Russian territory, or to provoke NATO. Despite operating from Belarus, Russian ground and air operations have mostly been confined to the southeastern portion […]

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What If the Russian Autocrat Cut His Losses in Ukraine? It Would Not Be Unprecedented

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

(Russia Matters – russiamatters.org – RM Staff – Sept. 1, 2022) Though Ukraine’s efforts to stage a counter-offensive in the south continued to fall short of the city of Kherson as of Sept. 1, one might nevertheless ponder: What if the Kremlin’s unthinkable scenario happens and Russian forces in Ukraine suffer a major setback? Should that happen, there would be […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “U.S. war-gamed with Ukraine ahead of counteroffensive and encouraged more limited mission” – CNN

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“… [T]he U.S. [reportedly] urged [Ukraine] to keep [its counteroffensive] limited … [regarding] objectives and … geography to avoid getting overextended and bogged down on multiple fronts …. [D]iscussions [reportedly] involved … ‘war-gaming’ … to help … Ukrainian forces understand … force levels … need[ed] … to be successful in different scenarios. The Ukrainians … initially consider[ed] a broader counteroffensive, […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “A Draft for Russia’s Army? Putin Opts for Domestic Stability Instead.” – New York Times

File Photo of Kremlin Tower, St. Basil's, Red Square at Night

“Western officials are puzzled by the Russian leader’s decision to avoid mass conscription. But analysts say he is intent on maintaining a sense of normalcy to prevent any public backlash.” “… Putin says Russia is fighting for its very existence … [b]ut … Russia continues to wage [its war in Ukraine] with a military … essentially at peacetime strength …. […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ukraine’s Russian ‘Liberators’ Are Seeing That We Live Better Than They Do” – New York Times/ Yegor Firsov

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“… This war is … Putin’s fatal mistake. Not because of economic sanctions and not because of the huge losses of troops and tanks but because [] Putin’s soldiers are from some of the poorest and most rural regions of Russia. Before this war, these men were encouraged to believe that Ukrainians lived in poverty and were culturally, economically and […]

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Senior Defense Official and Senior Military Official Hold a Background Briefing [on Ukraine and Russia]

Aerial Photo of Pentagon and Environs

(U.S. Department of Defense – Aug. 29, 2022) STAFF: Hey, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, Brigadier General Pat Ryder here, DoD Press Secretary. Thank you for joining us for today’s background briefing on Ukraine. Joining us today are [omitted], who may be attributed to as “a senior defense official,” and [omitted], who may be attributed as “a senior military official.” […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “With Military Attacks and Mockery, Ukraine Pokes the Russian Bear” – New York Times

European Portion of Commonwealth of Independent States

“Driven by deep anger at Russia and the need to rally support at home and abroad, Ukraine is regularly goading its much more powerful antagonist.” “… Ukraine has delivered strikes into the heart of Russian strongholds once considered untouchable, including … Crimea …. [L]est their actions go unnoticed, the Ukrainian government[] … post[ed] a flurry of taunting one-liners that mocked […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ukraine spy chief says Russian offensive slowing due to fatigue” – Reuters

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“Ukraine’s top military intelligence official [Kyrylo Budanov] said … Wednesday that Russia’s military offensive was slowing because of moral and physical fatigue in their ranks and Moscow’s ‘exhausted’ resource base. … one of the strongest signals by Kyiv that it believes Russia’s offensive power may be waning. … Moscow claimed the capture of the eastern region of Luhansk in early […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia can’t stop war, even if Ukraine drops NATO hopes – Putin ally” – Reuters

Dmitri Medvedev file photo

“… [Dmitry Medvedev] said on Friday that Moscow would not stop its military campaign in Ukraine even if Kyiv formally renounced its aspirations to join NATO. … [N]ow deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, [Medvedev] also said … that Russia was prepared to hold talks with … Zelenskiy subject to certain conditions. Even before the February invasion, Moscow made clear […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Are sanctions on Russia working? The lessons from a new era of economic warfare” – The Economist

Portion of U.S. Treasury Department Building Facade, North Side, with Sculpture of Alexander Hamilton

“… [A] war of attrition is taking place along a thousand-kilometre front …. … [A]nother struggle is raging — an economic conflict of a ferocity and scope not seen since the 1940s, as Western countries try to cripple Russia’s $1.8trn economy with a novel arsenal of sanctions. … [I]t … reveals a great deal about liberal democracies’ capacity to project […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Is the U.S. mission to support Ukraine getting a named operation?” – Military Times

File Photo of F-22 Fighter and Ground Crew

“Six months into the U.S. effort to bolster Ukraine’s military with equipment, while reassuring NATO allies with troops and aircraft throughout Eastern Europe and Germany, the plan is for troops to remain activated for the foreseeable future. … [T]he Biden administration [reportedly] plans to put a name on this support effort …. [b]ut a Pentagon spokesman couldn’t confirm …. ‘I’m […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Zelenskyy says Ukraine has been ‘born again’ by resistance to Russian invasion” – Financial Times

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“… Zelenskyy has vowed that Ukraine will fight Russia’s invasion ‘until the end’ … [speaking] on the 31st anniversary of [Ukraine’s] independence from the USSR. … in a video address from Kyiv’s Independence Square … Zelenskyy said his country had been ‘born again’ by its resistance to a war ordered by … Putin. … He pledged that Ukraine’s military, increasingly […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Where Ukraine war stands after 6 months” – AP

Ukraine Map Highlighting Donbas, adapted from image at defense.gov, with photo credit to Peggy Frierson, DOD

“When … Putin invaded Ukraine … an unprovoked act of aggression, many expected a quick victory. Six months later, the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II has turned into a grinding war of attrition. The Russian offensive has largely bogged down as Ukrainian forces increasingly target key facilities far behind the front lines, including in Russia-occupied Crimea. […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Who Will Get Rid of Putin? The Answer Is Grim” – New York Times/ Oleg Kashin

File Photo of Red Square, Kremlin, Environs, adapted from image at state.gov

“What’s easier to imagine … Putin suddenly declaring an end to the war on Ukraine and withdrawing his troops or a Russia without [] Putin that revises his policies, ends the war and begins to build relations with Ukraine and the West on a peaceful new foundation? … [P]rotests against the war have been completely choked off …. Critical public […]

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JRL NEWSLINK: “6 Ideas to Explore: Russia Analytical Report, Aug. 15-22, 2022” – Russia Matters

European Portion of Commonwealth of Independent States

1. Russian leadership expects a long war in Ukraine and, according to Vladimir Putin, the United States is the one “attempting to draw out this conflict.” Unsurprisingly, Putin’s proposition is shared by his senior diplomats. Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s permanent representative to the U.N. in Geneva, has told FT that he expects a long conflict. “And the more the conflict goes […]

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Imperializing Russia: Empire by Default or Design?

Vladimir Putin file photo, adapted from screenshot of video at shareamerica.gov

(PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo No. 799 – Marlene Laruelle – Aug. 22, 2022) Marlene Laruelle is Research Professor and Director of the Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies (IERES) at the Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine is both a strategic conflict with the West to reshape the post-Cold War […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia rules out peace deal to end Ukraine war” – Financial Times

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“Ambassador Gennady Gatilov warns Moscow expects a prolonged conflict.” “Moscow sees no possibility of a diplomatic solution to end the war in Ukraine and expects a long conflict, a senior Russian diplomat has warned …. Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva … [said] the UN should … play[] a bigger role in attempts to end the […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia’s Struggles: We explain why the last several weeks of the war in Ukraine have gone poorly for Russia” – New York Times

Ukraine Map Highlighting Donbas, adapted from image at defense.gov, with photo credit to Peggy Frierson, DOD

“… [T]he most recent phase of the war has gone better for Ukraine than many observers expected …. [H]ere are the three scenarios we described … Russia starts to win. … [and] continue[s] to take over more of eastern Ukraine, as … in the spring, and ultimately control[s] all of the Donbas … The war falls into a stalemate. … […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “5 things you need to know about Russia’s intelligence failures ahead of the invasion of Ukraine” – Washington Post

FSB Headquarters file photo

“… 1. A clandestine branch of Russia’s security service was deeply involved in the Kremlin’s failed war plan, assuring officials … that Ukraine’s government would fall quickly and deploying operatives to install a puppet regime. … 2. FSB officers were so confident … that they spent the final days before the war arranging [Kyiv] accommodations …. 3. The FSB’s Ukraine […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Europe’s powers gave Ukraine no new military pledges in July, data shows; Europe’s military support for Ukraine has been decreasing since April, according to data from the Kiel Institute.” – Politico

Europe Map

“Throughout … July, Europe’s six largest countries[, the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Poland, reportedly] offered Ukraine no new bilateral military commitments … the first month that … happened since Russia invaded in February. … [D]espite historic shifts in European defense policy — which have seen  once reluctant countries like France and Germany ship arms to Ukraine — military […]

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JRL NEWSBLOG: “The war in Ukraine: Stay cool on Kherson: Why Ukraine’s army should not rush to recapture the whole province” – The Economist

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“… There is growing chatter that the Ukrainian army is preparing a counter-offensive in and around … Kherson in the south. It has damaged or severed most of the bridges … connect[ing] the city to other Russian-held territory, isolating Russian forces …. It is pounding Russian ammunition dumps and command posts with rockets. Ukrainian generals are buoyant; one says the […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Zelensky faces outpouring of criticism over failure to warn of war” – Washington Post

Screenshot file photo of Volodymyr Zelensky Gesturing, from Congressional Teleconference, adapted from image at doggett.house.gov

“Until this week, Ukrainians seemed to see … Zelensky as beyond reproach, a national hero who stayed in Kyiv … risk[ing] … personal safety to lead his country against invading Russian troops. Comments he made .. justifying his failure to share with Ukrainians details of repeated U.S. warnings that Russia planned to invade have punctured the bubble, triggering … public […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Five takeaways from The Post’s examination of the road to war in Ukraine” – Washington Post

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“… 1. The United States intelligence community penetrated multiple points of Russia’s political leadership, spying apparatus and military, and found … Putin preparing for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. … 2. Every decision on arming Ukraine was predicated on not giving Russia a reason to attack the United States and NATO. … 3. Biden dispatched his top intelligence official to […]

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European Military Aid Commitments to Ukraine ‘Dry Up’ After 5 Months of War – Research

Map of Europe, adapted from image at loc.gov

(Moscow Times – August 18, 2022) Major European governments promised no new military aid to Ukraine in July, the first month this has happened since Russia invaded its pro-Western neighbor, according to research published Thursday. Ukraine, which relies heavily on Europe’s military and economic aid, received only around 1.5 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in new pledges of support in July, […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ukrainians believe they’ll win the war, a survey finds” – Washington Post

Maidan Square in Kiev, Ukraine

“They’re optimistic about the future, despite months of trauma.” “The Pentagon announced $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine last week …. [T]he U.S. treasury has authorized $4.5 billion in budgetary assistance …. … likely … welcome news in Ukraine, where a survey reveals citizens remain determined to repel Russia’s invasion, no matter how long they think the war may […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Playing With Fire in Ukraine; The Underappreciated Risks of Catastrophic Escalation” – Foreign Affairs/ John J. Mearsheimer

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“Western policymakers appear to have reached a consensus … [that the] Ukraine … conflict will settle into a prolonged stalemate, and eventually … a peace agreement … favor[ing] the United States … NATO allies … [and] Ukraine. … Few imagine … U.S. forces … directly involved … or … Russia[n] … use [of] nuclear weapons. … Although disastrous escalation may […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia’s Repeat Failures: Moscow’s New Strategy in Ukraine Is Just as Bad as the Old One” – Foreign Affairs/ Dara Massicot

Ukraine Map Highlighting Donbas, adapted from image at defense.gov, with photo credit to Peggy Frierson, DOD

“… Russia invaded Ukraine … put[ting] its military forces in an unsustainable position … tak[ing] on more operations than they could bear[,] … nearly all its soldiers surg[ing] simultaneously and rapidly into Ukraine … along multiple fronts. … without … necessary protective measures …. vulnerable to ambushes, counterattacks, and severe logistical problems …. Moscow was overconfident [on multiple counts] … […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin’s disposables; Russia is forcing Ukrainian conscripts into battle; Locals are trying to help them escape” – The Economist

Ukraine Map Highlighting Donbas, adapted from image at defense.gov, with photo credit to Peggy Frierson, DOD

“… Russian forces and leaders in the occupied ‘people’s republics’ of Donetsk and Luhansk are said to have mobilised some 100,000 men. Ukrainian officials say 25,000 conscripts from the occupied territories have been killed or are [MIA] …. Russian sources mention about 3,000 dead …. [D]ata suggest … Ukrainians from the separatist republics are dying at a higher rate than […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “The U.S. Is Afraid of Losing in Ukraine — or Winning; Russia’s war is forcing a cornered Putin regime to bet on red lines it can’t afford to enforce.” – WSJ

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“… NATO … [with] a collective GDP 25 times … Russia’s[] is … massively superior to Russia [in terms of conventional military strength] …. Thanks to [Putin’s] expensively failed war, he … knows he has less and less … to counter a Western intervention except the threat of nuclear armageddon, which isn’t what [his] … billionaire [supporters]… signed up for. […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ukrainian resistance grows in Russian-occupied areas” – AP

Ukraine Map Highlighting Donbas, adapted from image at defense.gov, with photo credit to Peggy Frierson, DOD

“In a growing challenge to Russia’s grip on occupied areas of southeastern Ukraine, guerrilla forces loyal to Kyiv are killing pro-Moscow officials, blowing up bridges and trains, and helping the Ukrainian military … identify[] key targets. … [S]preading resistance has eroded [local] Kremlin control … and threatened [Russian] plans to hold referendums … as a move toward annexation …. As […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “After Ukraine, Is Kazakhstan Next in the Kremlin’s Sights?” – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Almaty file photo, adapted from image at state.gov

“A social media post by … Medvedev warning that northern Kazakhstan could be next in line after Ukraine was quickly taken down, but … reflects the mindset of Russian hawks … entirely in keeping with Russian political dialogue, where few taboos remain.” “… [G]enerally regarded as Russia’s closest ally after Belarus … [Kazakhstan] has always participated in … Russia’s integration […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Contradicting Kremlin’s Account, Crimean Officials Detail Explosions’ Extent” – New York Times

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“Blasts at an air base in the Russian-occupied territory damaged 62 apartment buildings and forced hundreds into shelters. Satellite imagery showed destroyed fighter jets.” “… The images and the report by local officials on Wednesday contradicted the Kremlin’s earlier account of what had happened in Crimea, a strategic peninsula in southern Ukraine that Russia illegally annexed in 2014, and suggested […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “As Ukraine Holds the Line in Donbas, Russian Fire Shatters Cities in Moscow’s Path” – WSJ

Ukraine Map Highlighting Donbas, adapted from image at defense.gov, with photo credit to Peggy Frierson, DOD

“In Bakhmut, cluster munitions injure civilians as the infrastructure is gradually destroyed.” “… Russian artillery shells and rockets constantly rain on Bakhmut … destroying bit by bit a once elegant Ukrainian town of 72,000 … that used to be famous for … sparkling wines …. Russian forces started pushing toward Bakhmut more than a month ago, after seizing … Severodonetsk […]

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VIDEO: JRL NEWSWATCH: Ukrainian families navigate green corridor to Russian-occupied territories – CNN

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“CNN’s Nic Robertson speaks with Ukrainians navigating the route toward Russian-occupied territory, south of Zaporizhzhia, to reunite with family. Flooding in the region has turned the road to mud.”  Click here for: Ukrainian families navigate green corridor to Russian-occupied territories – CNN, Aug. 6, 2022 

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