"Since the beginning of 2023, a prolonged and bloody battle has been waged for control of a mid-sized Ukrainian city. Why is #Bakhmut an inflection point, and who stands to gain from its capture?" #Ukraine #Russia

How Bakhmut became a pivot in the #UkraineWar
https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2023/aug/10/how-bakhmut-became-a-pivot-in-the-ukraine-war

#Russia’s blockade of #Ukraine’s grain exports through the #BlackSea have fuelled soaring food prices, an important concern for many of Beijing’s allies.

#China doesn’t want to “appear so supportive of #Putin that it will allow the #GlobalSouth to go hungry” said Steve Tsang, director of the Soas China Institute. #UkraineWar

China has its own reasons for being at Ukraine #PeaceTalks in #SaudiArabia
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/11/china-ukraine-peace-talks-saudi-arabia-russia

"#KYIV, #Ukraine — A first group of six Ukrainian pilots is not expected to complete training on the #US -made #F16 before next summer, senior Ukrainian government and military officials said, following a series of delays by Western partners in implementing an instruction program for the sophisticated #FighterJet." #UkraineWar

F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots faces delays and uncertainty
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/f-16-training-for-ukrainian-pilots-faces-delays-and-uncertainty/ar-AA1f7HZ6

"Since the end of spring, the old Soviet #Su24M bombers in service with the brigade have been equipped with the latest British-French #StormShadow missiles. They are used to hit enemy arsenals and headquarters of Russian troops in the rear, as well as bridges leading to #Crimea." #UkraineWar

#BBC #Ukraine reports on Ukraine's air-launched #CruiseMissile capabilities
https://news.yahoo.com/bbc-ukraine-reports-ukraines-air-193200361.html

And of course the #UkraineWar and the #Russia #sanctions have nothing to do with it 🙄 #Ukraine

An economic adviser to Russian leader Vladimir #Putin has criticised the country’s central bank, suggesting that it is to blame for the weakness of the #rouble and setting the stage for monetary policy tightening.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2023/aug/14/uk-employers-pay-rises-bank-of-england-ftse-100-china-property-mortgage-interest-rates-business-live?page=with:block-64d9e8958f08e1f5a10e7d70#block-64d9e8958f08e1f5a10e7d70

"#Russia invaded #Ukraine in February 2022, and #mines have since then been laid in the #BlackSea by the combatants. Romanian, Bulgarian and Turkish military diving teams have been defusing those that have drifted into their waters.

The sea is crucial for shipments of #grain, #oil and #OilProducts and is shared by #Bulgaria, #Romania, #Georgia and #Turkey, as well as Ukraine and #Russia." #UkraineWar

Romania deploys ship, chopper to find stray Black Sea mines
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/romania-deploys-ship-chopper-find-stray-black-sea-mines-2023-08-14/

"It is believed that tens of thousands of Ukrainian men have left the country illegally since the full-scale war with #Russia started last February, many by paying bribes. On Friday, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr #Zelenskiy, fired every regional #MilitaryRecruitment head in the country, citing endemic #corruption in the apparatus." #DraftEvasion #UkraineWar #Ukraine

#Bribes and hiding at home: the Ukrainian men trying to avoid conscription
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/15/bribes-and-hiding-at-home-the-ukrainian-men-trying-to-avoid-conscription

"As long as the war continues it just gets worse for #Russia, the #RussianEconomy and the #rouble. Hiking policy rates won’t solve anything" -Timothy Ash, senior emerging markets sovereign strategy at Bluebay Asset Management in London #Ukraine #UkraineWar

As long as the war continues it just gets worse for Russia' – analysts
https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2023/aug/15/uk-basic-wage-growth-russia-china-central-bank-interest-rates-business-live?page=with:block-64db515a8f08f412aaa9afc7#block-64db515a8f08f412aaa9afc7

Despite the threats, last week #Ukraine announced a "humanitarian corridor" in the #BlackSea to release #CargoShips that have been trapped in its ports, pledging full transparency to make clear they were serving no military purpose. #Russia #UkraineWar

Cargo ship leaves Ukrainian port despite Russian threat of attack
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/cargo-ship-leaves-ukrainian-port-despite-russian-threat-attack-2023-08-16/

"But elsewhere one thing is clear: since Vladimir #Putin launched his full-scale invasion of #Ukraine last February, #Moscow has had to resort to riskier and less conventional methods of spying, mainly because so many of the spies it had placed under diplomatic cover in #Europe have been expelled." #EU #espionage #UkraineWar

#Russia turning to #SleeperCells and unofficial agents
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/15/russia-turning-to-sleeper-cells-and-unofficial-agents

"#Ukraine will not be able to operate US-built #F16 #FighterJets this coming autumn and winter, air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian television late on Wednesday." #UkraineWar

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/aug/17/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-f-16-jets-russian-grain-price-attacks-usa?page=with:block-64dd96c68f0800b618b8af07#block-64dd96c68f0800b618b8af07

Only eight Ukrainian pilots are in the first batch which is short of a full squadron (12). Pilot skill isn't the problem, the bottleneck is the need for English language proficiency.

"#Ukraine had a small air force of Soviet-standard jets at the start of the war. It has actively sought the US-made #F16 fighter to help it counter Russian air superiority." #UkraineWar

US reportedly approves sending F-16 jets to Ukraine from #Denmark and #Netherlands
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/18/us-reportedly-approves-sending-f-16-jets-to-ukraine-from-denmark-and-netherlands

They let the monsters out.

"Concern that #convicts re-entering society after stints in #Ukraine will bring ‘wave of #murder, #rape and #DomesticViolence’" #Russia #UkraineWar

Russian women living in fear as convicted murderers freed to fight for #Wagner return
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/19/russian-women-wagner-convicts-war-ukraine