For some reason, Vladimir Putin seems to think he can force NATO to back down from supporting Ukraine against his illegal war of territorial aggression by launching various provocations. Here’s a roundup of recent NATO country responses to Russia.
First up: Cappy Army on NATO beefing up it’s defensive line against Russia:
“NATO is racing to build a multi-billion dollar 2,000 mile long defensive line that stretches across the entire European continent.”
“There are several names for the new fortification depending on the section you’re standing at. In the Baltics, it’s officially known as the Eastern Flank Deterrence Line, which is a 500 mile long network of bunkers and fortified border zones.”
“The Eastern Flank Deterrence Line is not mainly physical barriers, because the distance is far too great. Instead, it’s a network of computer sensors to fill these physical gaps. It’s not designed to completely defeat a potential Russian conventional advance. It’s made to slow down and channel the enemy’s forces into these predetermined kill zones.”
“The Army and NATO’s focusing their efforts at the places deemed most vulnerable in the Baltics. Here they’re deploying a layered modular barrier system that runs 30 miles deep.” First they hit sensors lines, then get a dose of HIMARS and artillery, then drone swarms in the air and on the ground. “Estimates are these methods will have to kill or wound 70% of the attacking force to be successful.”
The length of the entire defensive line is roughly the length of the U.S.-Mexico border.
“It’s designed this way to cover large sections of land that may not already have trenches pre-plotted artillery and mortar kill zone are linked to a network of sensors and then anything that makes it past that runs into rows of landmines, then physical obstacles, including anti-vehicle ditches and rows of concrete dragons teeth. These are strategically placed at the high-speed avenues of approach that lead directly to the Baltic state capitals.”
“The second line of defensive positions in the network is over 600 bunkers of distributed firing positions, trenches, and roadblocks. Infantry and anti-tank javelin teams fight from here.”
“The European Deterrence Initiative in the United States requested $2.9 billion from America in 2025 to deter Russia. Poland’s portion of the defensive line will cost over $50 billion with much of that funding coming from the EU. And the Baltics and Finland are spending a combined billions of dollars more as well.”
“Similar to the Cold War doctrine, [Baltic forces are] a kind of tripwire force here. Troops stationed here jokingly refer to themselves as tactical speed bumps.” The idea is to buy time until reinforcements arrive.”
“In Estonia, there’s only 127 miles from the border with Russia to the capital city.”
“The defining issue along the defensive wall is manpower. The shortage of manpower is what has shaped all of the decisions for how this fortification is being built. The Estonian army has roughly 6,000 active soldiers with a NATO force of 2,000 UK and French troops also deployed here. And if we look across the whole Baltics, we see that there’s roughly 29,000 active duty soldiers total here. This does not fully take into account reserve forces or air power advantages, but it outlines the basic tactical problem.”
In Poland the defensive line continues under the name Eastern Shield. “This runs from the Kalinigrad enclave down along Belarus and towards Slovakia, which is another 500 miles.”
“Poland’s Eastern Shield has an entirely different strategy than the Baltics. They expect to absorb the first hit and then fight a long, protracted war on their own soil if they have to. The shield here does not have the benefit of being built around geographic obstacles like in the Baltics. This is why you see full-length anti-tank ditches and multi-mile long trench systems laid out in depth.”
“The scale of the project is gigantic, with 8,000 combat engineers working to lay 10,000 concrete dragon’s teeth and over 800 miles of layered anti- vehicle barriers backed up by massive amounts of artillery. Terrain denial is the focus on this stretch.”
“Manpower and mass is less of a problem on this section of the front, because in Poland there’s 280,000 well-trained and equipped active forces with an additional 10,000 American soldiers already stationed there before reinforcements arrive.”
“The defining piece of this part of the puzzle is the anti-air assets, with 48 Patriot air defense launchers provide a protective umbrella for forces massing here.”
“The logistics backbone is being built here. Poland would be the transit region into the Baltics and much of the large stockpile of fuel and ammo are positioned here because they have the space.”
NATO has a more difficult problem defending Poland than the Warsaw Pact did when Moscow called the shots. “Today’s NATO and EU is an alliance of sovereign states that must coordinate instead of obey. This makes rapid unified action more difficult.”
“The US Army themselves acknowledge Russia has the advantage in manpower and equipment on this front, and that Russia can choose the time and place of the attack.” I sincerely doubt Russia has the equipment or manpower advantage now that Vlad’s Big Adventure has run through Soviet-era tank stockpiles and slaughtered Russian manpower to gain tiny slivers of Ukrainian territory.
A history of static defenses snipped and Cold War defensive realities snipped.
NATO General Chris Donahue: “The massive momentum problem that Russia poses to us, we’ve developed the capability to make sure that we can stop that mass and momentum problem.”
In their panic over Ukraine slowly destroy both their Black Sea fleet and their shadow fleet, Russia has managed to piss Turkey off:
“After Russian forces increased their activity and provocations over [the Black Sea] and NATO country’s airspace, Turkey was the first to act and shot down Russian surveillance drones without warning.”
“As more accidents followed, the Russians are now at risk of facing the Turkish wrath, getting all their trade cut off outright without any strikes needed.”
A Russian drone with transponder equipment was found on the ground in a Romanian forest. “With a wingspan of roughly 2 meters, Romanian authorities assessed that the device had been used to monitor NATO facilities or track military aid deliveries to Ukraine.”
“Three separate Russian drones violated Turkish airspace, pushing the country closer to decisive action. The first incident occurred when a Russian drone entered Turkish airspace from the Black Sea. Turkish air defense reacted swiftly and F-16 fighter jets intercepted the target, ultimately shooting it down with an M9X sidewinder missile.”
“The second incident was even more alarming when a Russian Orlan reconnaissance drone crashed near the city of Izmit just 50 kilometers from Istanbul.”
“The third case involved debris from a Russian Merlin reconnaissance drone discovered in western Turkey. The Merlin can remain airborne for up to 10 hours flying at altitudes of up to 5 kilometers and carrying advanced opto-electronic sensors. Its presence again pointed to sustained intelligence gathering activity rather than an isolated malfunction.”
“If Ankara were to sight repeated Russian drone incursions as a security threat, it could even restrict civilian Russian shipping through the Bosphorus in retaliation. The consequences would be severe as such a move would devastate Russia’s Black Sea trade and challenged the 1936 Montreux Convention, guaranteeing free passage for merchant vessels.”
“Russian drone operations continue, Ankara appears willing not only to shut down the sky over the Black Sea, but also to potentially escalate further and close the boss for us, making it clear that spying on NATO members in the region will carry real and costly consequences.”
“Russia’s shadow fleet is coming under mounting pressure in the Baltic, as interceptions increase and European states move more aggressively against sanctioned vessels. However, now Russia is responding by placing Wagner mercenaries on board these ships, bringing one of its most violent forces directly into Nato-monitored waters.”
“The European Union has just released a new sanctions package targeting forty-one additional shadow fleet vessels, bringing the total to more than six hundred ships now barred from European-linked ports, insurance, and services. These ships are losing access to harbors, maintenance, and technical certification, which forces Moscow to rely on improvised routes that squeeze through increasingly narrow corridors.”
“Beyond oil, these vessels also move sensitive cargo linked to Russia’s war effort, which makes each interception far more consequential than a financial loss alone, and as enforcement tightens, the risk shifts from paperwork violations to direct seizure.”
This shift became visible when Swedish authorities detained the Russian cargo vessel Adler after it entered Swedish waters with unresolved documentation issues. The ship’s owner is sanctioned for transporting materials linked to Russia’s weapons production, and when Adler suffered engine trouble in Swedish waters, the crew could not produce clean documentation. Swedish authorities boarded immediately, as the detention came amid growing reports that Russia has begun placing Wagner mercenaries on board shadow fleet vessels, raising the stakes for any inspection or boarding operation, and signaling that European states are no longer intimidated by the possibility of armed Russians on these vessels.”
“According to Danish maritime pilots, once Wagner personnel are on board, they often restrict access to the bridge and interfere with communication between captains and port authorities, and push for routing that avoids areas where inspections are common.”
“For Moscow, Wagner functions as a last-line enforcement tool. Their role is to ensure that vessels keep moving even when legal and operational risks become unacceptable by normal commercial standards. Crews bullied, beaten, or threatened by the mercenaries may even quietly signal nearby NATO ships for help, or attempt to sabotage equipment to force an emergency stop in Western waters, with the Adler’s crew possibly sabotaging the engine before they reached a Russian port, and Wagners would come on board. On top of that, owners of leased ships may object to hosting armed Russian soldiers, whose presence massively increases legal liability and operational danger.”
The case of Adler matters because it highlights how the shadow fleet is being used not only for oil, but for moving weapons and military-linked cargo. Western officials assess that a substantial portion of Russia’s imported ammunition components, explosives precursors, and sanctioned industrial equipment now arrives by sea, precisely because land routes and air transport are more exposed to interception. If vessels like Adler are increasingly detained or disrupted, Russia does not just lose revenue but risks bottlenecks in the supply chains that feed its weapons production.”
NATO hasn’t been backing down in the face of repeated Russian provocations. Putin is playing an increasingly weak hand badly.
This entry was posted on Sunday, December 28th, 2025 at 5:59 PM and is filed under Military, video. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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NATO is attempting to recreate the Maginot Line. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana.
The Russians’ reconnaissance drone campaign over the Black Sea began when the British embarked on their oil tanker piracy campaign in the Black Sea. Turkey gets most of their diesel fuel from Russia and the Russians just cut them off. The Turks will probably decide to cooperate with the Russians, or watch their economy implode.
Swedish customs released the Adler on 22 December after finding all matters in order. Marine tracking data shows the vessel operating under its own (restored) power, out of Swedish waters.
We have routinely placed armed units on board American vessels traveling through pirate infested waters such as Somalia. Under international law, merchant vessels and their crews have the right to carry arms for self defense if that is required for the vessel to exercise its freedom of navigation. Acceptable self-defense measures include providing weapons and training to the crew and/or hiring armed guards to allow the vessel to navigate.
IF NATO builds a Maginot Line, I suggest an Armored Cavalry Regiment for the Ardennes.
Problem is, we only have two, with two more in the National Guard, and they are all in CINUS. (Never saw an explanation for why they took the tanks out of the 2nd ACR, turning it into a Stryker Regiment.
“NATO is attempting to recreate the Maginot Line. ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ George Santayana.”
The Eastern Deterence Line offers defense in depth, much like Russia is facing in Ukraine. Clearly, they *have* learned what is necessary to frustrate Russian expansionism.
“IF NATO builds a Maginot Line, I suggest an Armored Cavalry Regiment for the Ardennes.”
Russian strategists have recently adopted a similar battle plan. Having largely exhausted their armored battle groups, they have taken to attacking Ukrainian positions on horseback:
HIMARS to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Land mines in front of them
Volley’d and thunder’d;
Storm’d at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the two mobiks
Evidently, Russia remains in lasting awe of The Light Brigade’s Charge at the Battle of Balaclava, much like they worshiply follow Napoleon ‘s “strategic barrage” formula in advancing ground troops.
From this we may conclude that the best way to win a Russian ‘s lasting respect is by beating the living hell out of him on the battlefield.
Chickenhawks boast of war again, damn them.
The most pathetic thing about this report is that it is based on Russia attacking overland into Europe when all the shrill out of the EU has been about attacking Russia. So once again they are lying about providing any meaningful forces and are going to “invest” in “buying” their own high tech to solve a complete non-problem.
As you read the rest of the article what becomes clear is that the West has decided on piracy as their go-to means of attacking Russia. They really won’t be surprised when Russia returns the favor and keep in mind how Russia dealt with the terrorists in Lebanon long ago when they were stupid enough to attack Russians.
Now is a really good time for politicians to sit down and shut up.
“Evidently, Russia remains in lasting awe of The Light Brigade’s Charge at the Battle of Balaclava, much like they worshiply follow Napoleon ‘s “strategic barrage” formula in advancing ground troops.”
Your total ignorance of Central European history is on display. The largest cavalry clash in world history occurred during the 1919 – 1920 Polish-Soviet War. Pilsudski’s 400,000 sabers defeated, in turn, Gai Khan’s Red Cavalry Army and then the two other, (armor equipped) Soviet columns. His lightning strikes were only possible using horses as transport. Compare Pilsudski’s performance with the very horseless Germans and Soviets in the two World Wars.
Horses are still the best form of transport across the vast, empty steppe. You would have to visit the region to understand why. This area has lots of horse feed, but no gas stations. The mud during six months of the year is legendary. Only horses and helicopters can move during Rasputitsa. During the really cold weather (1941, Moscow, for example), only panje horses function. Motorcycles are probably the next best option, but still a poor substitute for horses.
“The Eastern Deterence Line offers defense in depth, much like Russia is facing in Ukraine. Clearly, they *have* learned what is necessary to frustrate Russian expansionism.”
The Russians consider the SMO in Ukraine a “fraternal war” and have been circumspect about deploying their full arsenal. They are entertaining themselves by killing the “militants” willing to fight for OD Napoleon while going to some lengths to avoid civilian casualties.
The Russians won’t be so accommodating if and when they go up against the western Europeans, whom they despise. Read the latest Russian nuclear use doctrine and consider why the Russians have so many tactical nuclear devices. They have thousands.
The new NATO Maginot Line will only encourage the Russians to blast their way through, wiping out static NATO forces. Flexible, dispersed defense is the only option for NATO, and that requires NATO countries to give up their beloved welfare and green new deal spending, and actually produce functioning military organizations with adequate equipment. The Eurotrash just won’t do this, so they come up with a laughable Maginot Line reprise.
You [American journalists] want to present what is happening in Syria as a defeat for Russia,” [Putin] said. “I assure you it is not. We have achieved our goals.”
Likewise, American bloggers want to present what is happening in Iran as another defeat for Russia but assuredly it is not. Putin has achieved his goals.
The Western press want to present what is happening in Ukraine as yet another defeat for Russia, but it is most assuredly not; Putin has achieved his goals.
It is widely assumed that the Wagner Group’s forced withdrawl from Mali is an admission of yet another failure for Russia but is is emphatically not. Putin has achieved his goals.
Everywhere, Putin is triumphant! May many similar successes be added to his account in the coming New Year.
“Those steppes are full of Ukranians, determined to defend their homeland from barbarian invasion, as the fate of the Russian “calvary” attests.”
Half of all AFU troops desert because they consider themselves Russian, not Ukrainian. Most of the other half are hungry, tired, and ready to surrender because their idiot leadership cannot keep them fed and supplied with ammunition.
The Russians are willing to try all manner of different methods to keep their troops supplied – horses to drones – and it is reflected in their low desertion rates.
A little late, but I will just relay an observation from former NATO staff guy CDR Salamander that NATO is effed up in their military terminology on this, for political and historical reasons – if the direction of the enemy is East, it’s not a “Flank” in that direction, it’s a “Front”.
But an organization that includes the Germans announcing their new “Eastern Front Defensive Line” would probably be an issue for the PR folks, so…
But the undermanned German Army should not worry, as the Poles will protect them.
“Half of all AFU troops desert because they consider themselves Russian, not Ukrainian.”
In which case, they would be surrendering to their “brothers-in-arms” while welcoming Russians as liberators. That this is not occurring reveals the transparency of your lies.
“But the undermanned German Army should not worry, as the Poles will protect them.”
…as will NATO members Finland, Estonia, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden, all of whom.have Baltic Sea naval stations..Even the dumbass General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is cognizant of this fact, which is why they send cargo vessels like the Fitburg to sabotage undersea telecoms cables in the Gulf of Finland.
Like Islam, Russia is at war with the West; unlike Islam, Russia will lose this war convincingly.
“In which case, they would be surrendering to their “brothers-in-arms” while welcoming Russians as liberators. That this is not occurring reveals the transparency of your lies.”
AFU desertions are now running 1,000 per week, according to both Ukrainian prosecutors and outside observers. Ukrainian prosecutors have open cases against 290,000 deserters and AFU has referred another 650,000 cases to prosecutors, who are too overwhelmed to open these additional cases.
The Poles and the Balts are reinforcing their borders in an attempt to contain Ukrainian deserters and bolster AFU, but it isn’t working. AFU deserters are escaping through Moldova, Romania, and Finland. Ukrainian troops are also starting to surrender to Russians en masse. 1,109 AFU troops surrendered at Kupyansk in November, and another large group at Huliaipole last month which hasn’t yet been tallied.
A good English language report in The Telegraph:
‘Why divided Ukrainians are refusing to fight’
Russian gains in the east are undermining morale while casting Kyiv’s manpower problems in stark relief
By Adrian Blomfield, Fermin Torrano, and Audrey MacAlpine
14 August 2025
NATO is attempting to recreate the Maginot Line. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana.
The Russians’ reconnaissance drone campaign over the Black Sea began when the British embarked on their oil tanker piracy campaign in the Black Sea. Turkey gets most of their diesel fuel from Russia and the Russians just cut them off. The Turks will probably decide to cooperate with the Russians, or watch their economy implode.
Swedish customs released the Adler on 22 December after finding all matters in order. Marine tracking data shows the vessel operating under its own (restored) power, out of Swedish waters.
We have routinely placed armed units on board American vessels traveling through pirate infested waters such as Somalia. Under international law, merchant vessels and their crews have the right to carry arms for self defense if that is required for the vessel to exercise its freedom of navigation. Acceptable self-defense measures include providing weapons and training to the crew and/or hiring armed guards to allow the vessel to navigate.
IF NATO builds a Maginot Line, I suggest an Armored Cavalry Regiment for the Ardennes.
Problem is, we only have two, with two more in the National Guard, and they are all in CINUS. (Never saw an explanation for why they took the tanks out of the 2nd ACR, turning it into a Stryker Regiment.
“NATO is attempting to recreate the Maginot Line. ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ George Santayana.”
The Eastern Deterence Line offers defense in depth, much like Russia is facing in Ukraine. Clearly, they *have* learned what is necessary to frustrate Russian expansionism.
“IF NATO builds a Maginot Line, I suggest an Armored Cavalry Regiment for the Ardennes.”
Russian strategists have recently adopted a similar battle plan. Having largely exhausted their armored battle groups, they have taken to attacking Ukrainian positions on horseback:
HIMARS to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Land mines in front of them
Volley’d and thunder’d;
Storm’d at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the two mobiks
Evidently, Russia remains in lasting awe of The Light Brigade’s Charge at the Battle of Balaclava, much like they worshiply follow Napoleon ‘s “strategic barrage” formula in advancing ground troops.
From this we may conclude that the best way to win a Russian ‘s lasting respect is by beating the living hell out of him on the battlefield.
Chickenhawks boast of war again, damn them.
The most pathetic thing about this report is that it is based on Russia attacking overland into Europe when all the shrill out of the EU has been about attacking Russia. So once again they are lying about providing any meaningful forces and are going to “invest” in “buying” their own high tech to solve a complete non-problem.
As you read the rest of the article what becomes clear is that the West has decided on piracy as their go-to means of attacking Russia. They really won’t be surprised when Russia returns the favor and keep in mind how Russia dealt with the terrorists in Lebanon long ago when they were stupid enough to attack Russians.
Now is a really good time for politicians to sit down and shut up.
“Evidently, Russia remains in lasting awe of The Light Brigade’s Charge at the Battle of Balaclava, much like they worshiply follow Napoleon ‘s “strategic barrage” formula in advancing ground troops.”
Your total ignorance of Central European history is on display. The largest cavalry clash in world history occurred during the 1919 – 1920 Polish-Soviet War. Pilsudski’s 400,000 sabers defeated, in turn, Gai Khan’s Red Cavalry Army and then the two other, (armor equipped) Soviet columns. His lightning strikes were only possible using horses as transport. Compare Pilsudski’s performance with the very horseless Germans and Soviets in the two World Wars.
Horses are still the best form of transport across the vast, empty steppe. You would have to visit the region to understand why. This area has lots of horse feed, but no gas stations. The mud during six months of the year is legendary. Only horses and helicopters can move during Rasputitsa. During the really cold weather (1941, Moscow, for example), only panje horses function. Motorcycles are probably the next best option, but still a poor substitute for horses.
“The Eastern Deterence Line offers defense in depth, much like Russia is facing in Ukraine. Clearly, they *have* learned what is necessary to frustrate Russian expansionism.”
The Russians consider the SMO in Ukraine a “fraternal war” and have been circumspect about deploying their full arsenal. They are entertaining themselves by killing the “militants” willing to fight for OD Napoleon while going to some lengths to avoid civilian casualties.
The Russians won’t be so accommodating if and when they go up against the western Europeans, whom they despise. Read the latest Russian nuclear use doctrine and consider why the Russians have so many tactical nuclear devices. They have thousands.
The new NATO Maginot Line will only encourage the Russians to blast their way through, wiping out static NATO forces. Flexible, dispersed defense is the only option for NATO, and that requires NATO countries to give up their beloved welfare and green new deal spending, and actually produce functioning military organizations with adequate equipment. The Eurotrash just won’t do this, so they come up with a laughable Maginot Line reprise.
“The Russians consider the SMO in Ukraine a ‘frraternal war’ and have been circumspect about deploying their full arsenal.”
You misspelled “fratricide”.
“Horses are still the best form of transport across the vast, empty steppe.”
Those steppes are full of Ukranians, determined to defend their homeland from barbarian invasion, as the fate of the Russian “calvary” attests.
You [American journalists] want to present what is happening in Syria as a defeat for Russia,” [Putin] said. “I assure you it is not. We have achieved our goals.”
Likewise, American bloggers want to present what is happening in Iran as another defeat for Russia but assuredly it is not. Putin has achieved his goals.
The Western press want to present what is happening in Ukraine as yet another defeat for Russia, but it is most assuredly not; Putin has achieved his goals.
It is widely assumed that the Wagner Group’s forced withdrawl from Mali is an admission of yet another failure for Russia but is is emphatically not. Putin has achieved his goals.
Everywhere, Putin is triumphant! May many similar successes be added to his account in the coming New Year.
“Those steppes are full of Ukranians, determined to defend their homeland from barbarian invasion, as the fate of the Russian “calvary” attests.”
Half of all AFU troops desert because they consider themselves Russian, not Ukrainian. Most of the other half are hungry, tired, and ready to surrender because their idiot leadership cannot keep them fed and supplied with ammunition.
The Russians are willing to try all manner of different methods to keep their troops supplied – horses to drones – and it is reflected in their low desertion rates.
A little late, but I will just relay an observation from former NATO staff guy CDR Salamander that NATO is effed up in their military terminology on this, for political and historical reasons – if the direction of the enemy is East, it’s not a “Flank” in that direction, it’s a “Front”.
But an organization that includes the Germans announcing their new “Eastern Front Defensive Line” would probably be an issue for the PR folks, so…
But the undermanned German Army should not worry, as the Poles will protect them.
“Half of all AFU troops desert because they consider themselves Russian, not Ukrainian.”
In which case, they would be surrendering to their “brothers-in-arms” while welcoming Russians as liberators. That this is not occurring reveals the transparency of your lies.
“But the undermanned German Army should not worry, as the Poles will protect them.”
…as will NATO members Finland, Estonia, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden, all of whom.have Baltic Sea naval stations..Even the dumbass General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is cognizant of this fact, which is why they send cargo vessels like the Fitburg to sabotage undersea telecoms cables in the Gulf of Finland.
Like Islam, Russia is at war with the West; unlike Islam, Russia will lose this war convincingly.
“In which case, they would be surrendering to their “brothers-in-arms” while welcoming Russians as liberators. That this is not occurring reveals the transparency of your lies.”
AFU desertions are now running 1,000 per week, according to both Ukrainian prosecutors and outside observers. Ukrainian prosecutors have open cases against 290,000 deserters and AFU has referred another 650,000 cases to prosecutors, who are too overwhelmed to open these additional cases.
The Poles and the Balts are reinforcing their borders in an attempt to contain Ukrainian deserters and bolster AFU, but it isn’t working. AFU deserters are escaping through Moldova, Romania, and Finland. Ukrainian troops are also starting to surrender to Russians en masse. 1,109 AFU troops surrendered at Kupyansk in November, and another large group at Huliaipole last month which hasn’t yet been tallied.
A good English language report in The Telegraph:
‘Why divided Ukrainians are refusing to fight’
Russian gains in the east are undermining morale while casting Kyiv’s manpower problems in stark relief
By Adrian Blomfield, Fermin Torrano, and Audrey MacAlpine
14 August 2025