UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-02-11
Slava Ukraini! Since June 2023 I have provided a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 40 sources daily much of which ends up in the script. I will make this Draft available here for those who wish to keep up with events on a daily basis.
INSIDE UKRAINE
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
GSAFU Morning Report
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its situation update at 06:00 on Feb. 11 stated that it was day 718 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
During the past day, 98 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 3 missile strikes, 64 air strikes, and 93 MLRS attacks across the positions of our troops and settlements. As a result of the Russian attacks, unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population. Destruction and damage to residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure.
At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers continue to inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupying troops, exhausting the enemy along the entire front line.
Ukrainian Missile forces struck 3 areas of focus of personnel, weapons and military equipment 1 control point, 2 artillery and 1 MLRS.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group is responsible for the Kup’yans’k, Lyman, and Bakhmut axes, in the northeastern part of Ukraine.
Kup’yans’k axis: The enemy did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations.
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 6 attacks near Terny, and Vyimka (Donetsk oblast)
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian forces repelled 14 attacks near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast)
The Tavria operational-strategic group is responsible for the Avdiivka, Mar’inka, Shaktars’ke, and Zaporizhzhia axes, in the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.
Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back the enemy who keeps trying to encircle Avdiivka. AFU soldiers are standing their ground and inflicting major losses on the invaders. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 23 enemy attacks nea Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, and Avdiivka, plus 10 near Tonen’ke and Nevel’s’ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar’inka axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the occupiers in the vicinities of Heorhiivka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Troops repelled 35 attacks in that area.
Shakhtarske axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2 attacks in the area of Vodiane (Donetsk oblast)
Zaporizhzhia axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2 attacks near Robotyne and west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
The Odesa operational-strategic group is responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.
Kherson axis: Ukrainian defenders continue to expand the bridgehead. Despite significant losses, the enemy does not abandon its attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Over the past day, the enemy carried 2 unsuccessful assaults on the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Massive Russian Shahed drone attack repelled
During the night of February 11th, Russian occupiers launched 45 Shahed kamikaze drones for an air attack on Ukraine. Of these, 40 were successfully shot down by the air defence forces, according to the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. RBC reports.
It is noted that these attack drones were launched by the enemy from the Balaklava and Cape Chauda areas in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
"Units of the air defence missile forces, mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine, as well as electronic warfare assets, were involved in repelling the air attack," military officials reported.
Mykolaiv faced a massive attack - explosions were heard multiple times in the city during the night, with defenders engaging in combat operations. The mayor's office reported fires, damage to nearby residential buildings from the shockwave, as well as private vehicles and a gas pipeline being affected, with one casualty reported.
Zelenskyy appoints new military leadership
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued decrees appointing new heads of several divisions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Head of the Ground Forces - Oleksandr Pavliuk replaces Oleksandr Syrskyi, who, as previously reported, became the new commander-in-chief.
Commander of the Joint Forces - Yurii Sodol was appointed replacing Serhii Naiev
Commander of Air Assault Forces - Ihor Skybiuk replacing Maksym Myrhorodskyi
Commander of the Territorial Defence Forces - Ihor Plakhuta replacing Anatolii Barhylevych
THE RUSSIAN WORLD
Ukraine War results in a shortage of healthcare professionals in Russia
The UK Ministry of Defence in its Feb. 11 Intelligence update stated that there are indications that Russia is facing a shortage of doctors and healthcare workers due to the war against Ukraine.
Following the announcement of mobilisation in Russia in September 2022, medical workers were warned against leaving the country, though up to 2% of Russian doctors and medical workers fled to avoid conscription. Additionally, up to 3,000 Russian healthcare workers may have been drafted to provide medical care during the hostilities.
Data from the Russian Ministry of Health, states that the Russian medical sector lacks about 26,500 doctors and 58,200 nurses. A significant shortage of doctors is observed in 22 regions, with 7 more regions experiencing an acute lack of relevant specialists.
Another estimate from January 2024 suggests that the number of doctors had fallen by 7,500 in the previous 15 months, with many blaming long working hours and low salaries. Russia's State Duma Committee on Regional Policy and Local Self-Government noted in its report on the 2024 budget that the poorest regions of Russia will face challenges in financing healthcare salaries.
The heavy resource and financial burden of supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine is negatively affecting a range of civilian sectors that serve the Russian population. There are no signs that the trend of reducing numbers of healthcare professionals in Russia will change during 2024
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Ukraine's Defence Intelligence confirms Russians have Starlink terminals
Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) has confirmed that Russian occupying forces are using Starlink satellite communications systems on the battlefield.
The intelligence service noted that radio interception of Russian communications proves that in order to establish access to the Internet, Starlink terminals were installed, for example, in the units of the 83rd Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces operating in Donetsk Oblast near the settlements of Klishchiivka and Andriivka.
HUR spokesman Andriy Yusov stressed that the scale of Russians' use of Starlink terminals in the war is growing and "is becoming systemic".
The use by Russia of SpaceX Starlink satellite devices in Ukraine was first revealed in the American version of Defense One. Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, who has famously attempted to terminate Ukraine’s usage of Starlink has not commented on why he has allowed Russia to use them.
Donald Trump says he would encourage Russia to attack Nato allies who pay too little
Seeking a second presidency as the Republicans’ presumptive 2024 White House nominee, Donald Trump has said he would “encourage” Russia to attack any of the US’s Nato allies whom he considers to have not met their financial obligations. The Guardian reports.
The White House described the remarks as “appalling and unhinged”. Trump made the statement on Saturday during a campaign rally in Conway, South Carolina, ahead of the state’s Republican presidential preference primary on 24 February.
The former president has voiced misgivings about aid to Ukraine as it defends itself from the invasion launched by Russia in February 2022 – as well as to the existence of Nato, the 31-nation alliance which the US has committed to defending when necessary.
On Saturday, Trump claimed that during an unspecified Nato meeting he told a fellow head of state that the US under his leadership would not defend any countries who were “delinquent”.
“One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay, and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’” Trump said, adding “I said, ‘You didn’t pay, you’re delinquent?’”
“No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills.”
Grumpy here — This is classic Trump, who, betraying his true criminal nature reduces NATO to a protection racket. Furthermore it is rather ironic for Trump, a man who is most famous in business circles for NOT paying his bills to be quoted as saying “You got to pay your bills.”
Trump criticises bill and calls for end to aid to Ukraine
Former US President, and likely candidate for the 2024 presidential election from the Republican Party Donald Trump stated his opposition to the proposed Senate bill on foreign aid. Censor.net reports
He said that the US should stop providing aid to other countries.
"They want to give almost $100 billion to several countries, $100 billion! Why are we doing this? If you do that, don't give them $100 billion, give them a loan," the former president said at a rally in South Carolina on Saturday.
He added that the United States should never again give money without the hope of repayment or without obligations.
Russia recruited almost 15 thousand Nepalis to fight in war
The Russian Federation has recruited nearly 15,000 Nepalis to fight in the war against Ukraine. Many of them returned traumatised, while some never returned, reports CNN.
One of the Nepalese volunteers, 37-year-old Ramchandra Khadka, recently returned to Nepal after being wounded at the front in Ukraine.
"I didn't join the Russian military for pleasure. I didn’t have any job opportunities in Nepal. But in hindsight, it wasn’t the right decision. We didn’t realise we would be sent to the frontlines that quickly and how horrible the situation would be," Khadka said.
He arrived in Moscow in September last year. According to him, after only two weeks of training, he was sent to the front line in Bakhmut with a weapon and a basic kit.
Prominent opposition Nepalese politician and former foreign minister Bimal Rai Paudyal said on Thursday in the upper house of the district parliament that 14,000 to 15,000 Nepalese are fighting on the front line, citing testimonies of men who have returned from the combat zone, and called on the Russian authorities to provide these figures.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, four Nepalese soldiers are currently being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.
Stoltenberg — NATO must prepare for a long term confrontation with Russia
Secretary-General NATO Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with Welt that the Alliance should prepare for a possible ten-year confrontation with Russia, as its aggression could spread to other states if Russian President Vladimir Putin wins in Ukraine.
According to the NATO Secretary General, the defence industry should be built up quickly, and deterrence "works only when it is credible".
"The North Atlantic Alliance does not seek war with Russia, but we must prepare for a confrontation that could last for decades," Stoltenberg said. He stressed that the best protection now — is to support Ukraine and invest in NATO's military capabilities.
"We need to rebuild and expand our industrial base faster so that we can increase supplies to Ukraine and replenish our own reserves," he said, explaining, what this means is the transition to the rapid production required during the conflict.
MILITARY & TECH
Ukraine caught up with Russia in production of long-range kamikaze drones
Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov stated that Ukraine has caught up with Russia in the number of long-range kamikaze drones. Additionally, the emergence of an upgraded version of the maritime drone MAGURA is expected.
"When it comes to the niche of Shaheds and long-range drones, I'll just quote Budanov. He said in an interview a few days ago that we have parity in these drones. I'll say that's true. We have up to ten manufacturers producing long-range kamikaze drones," he said.
Fedorov noted that the production of long-range drones is limited only by funding. However, production continues to scale up.
"You can produce thousands of these drones. Thousands have already been produced, and almost every day something is burning in Russia. And this can be scaled up. In half a year, we caught up (with Russia) in quantity. Russia must understand that we will continue to scale up, and we've only just begun," the minister said.
More Russian lies - Russia reduced to sending tanks created for export to Ukraine
Russia, grappling with the depletion of armoured vehicles after two years of significant losses in Ukraine, has opted to repurpose T-90S tanks initially slated for export clients.
Just yesterday we reported how Russia’s statements about their robust Defence Industrial Base (DIB) were mostly smoke and mirrors and how they were, for the most part, incapable of significantly upscaling much of its defence industry due to sanctions, a shortage of qualified personnel and failing Russian infrastructure.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has released footage showcasing the modernised T-90S tank, initially intended for export but redirected for domestic use due to critical combat vehicle shortages in frontline units. Defence Blog reports.
The video reveals that all inscriptions on the tank’s control panel are in English. The T-90S, originally developed for export customers, potentially including India, Algeria, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam. Many of these clients are not mad about that, after watching Russian tank turrets being launched into the stratosphere on a regular basis for the last two years.
These tanks, built for clients in other countries have now been pressed into service with the Russian army and counted among those produced over the last year even though many were assembled from parts built in previous years and stockpiled.
The decision to repurpose the export-centred T-90S tanks underscores the pressing need for Russia to bolster its armoured capabilities amidst ongoing war. With the depletion of resources due to sustained engagements, the military has turned to previously earmarked export combat vehicles to shore up its forces. While claiming they have ramped up production.
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