Russian special operation in Ukraine


 * ''For previous speculation, see 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine speculation



Putin's orders

 * Address by the President of the Russian Federation - February 24, 2022. 6:00 am
 * Vladimir Putin's emergency video message to the Russians (video)
 * Putin announces 'special operation' in Donbass (video)
 * Putin announces 'special operation' in Donbass - RT, February 24, 2022
 * Russian military attack on Ukraine: How we got there - RT, February 24, 2022

Day Z (February 24)
Some sources. Official reports, by Konashenkov, here. Unofficial, Strelkov comments, almost daily


 * День Z (Day Z) - Colonel Cassad, 9:16 am
 * The first footage of Russia's special operation to liberate Ukraine - Politics Today: Russia USA Ukraine, (video)
 * День Z. 16-00 - Colonel Cassad, 15:58 (pm)
 * Putin announced a "military operation" in Ukraine. The Rada declared martial law. updated - Strana.UA, live stream
 * Ukraine Special Op Live Updates: more - Sputnik
 * Hit from all sides. What the first day of the war showed and why the Americans predict the fall of Kiev in 3-4 days - Strana.UA, 22:19
 * After 8 Years Of War Russians Are Finally Here - South Front, February 24, 2022
 * Russian Advance In Ukraine And Its Brief Analysis By Igor Strelkov - South Front, February 25, 2022

Day Z+1 (February 25)

 * Ukraine Spec Op LIVE UPDATES: Moscow to Take Retaliatory Measures After US Expels Minister Counselor - Sputnik
 * Special Op Live Updates: Over 150 Ukrainian Military Personnel Surrender Due to Fighting – MoD - Sputnik
 * Day Z + 1. On the outskirts of Kiev - Colonel Cassad
 * The Steel Gauntlet Of Russian Diplomacy: Second Day Of Operation In Ukraine - South Front, February 25, 2022
 * Russian operation in the Ukraine – end of day 2 - The Saker, February 25, 2022
 * Day Two of the Russian ‘Military Operation’ in Ukraine - Gilbert Doctorow, February 25, 2022

Day Z+2 (February 26)

 * Kremlin: Russia Paused Military Op for Talks, but Ukraine Rejected Negotiations - Sputnik, February 26, 2022
 * Day 3 of the Russian operation in the Ukraine - The Saker, February 26, 2022
 * Parte de guerra 26/02/2022 12:00 horas - Guerra en Ucraina, February 26, 2022

Day Z+3 (February 27)

 * LIVE UPDATES: US, Allies Not Interested in Ukrainian Settlement, Russian MFA Says - Sputnik
 * The Ministry of Defense reported on (results and) Russian losses during a special military operation - TASS
 * "our losses are many times less than the destroyed nationalists. And losses among servicemen of the Ukrainian armed forces"  (numbers not provided
 * detailed list of targets destroyed provided
 * Putin Puts Russian Nuclear Deterrence Forces on High Alert Over Aggressive Statements by NATO - Sputnik, February 27, 2022
 * Disarming Ukraine - Day 4 - Moon of Alabama, February 27, 2022

Day 5 (February 28)

 * LIVE UPDATES: Talks Between Russia & Ukraine to Be Held on Monday Morning, Source Says - Sputnik

Day 6 (March 1)

 * The liberation of Ukraine. The Rossa Primavera News Agency’s summary. March 1
 * Day 6, a couple of quick points -The Saker, March 1, 2022

Day 7 (March 2)

 * LIVE UPDATES: Ukraine's Zelensky Says He's Ready to Negotiate With Putin - Sputnik
 * LIVE UPDATES: Biden Extends US National Emergency Regarding Ukraine - Sputnik
 * Progress of the liberation of Ukraine. Rossa Primavera News Agency’s report on March 2

Day 8 (March 3)

 * Operational situation for the evening of 03/03/2022 - Soldat.ru, March 3, 2022

Day 9 (March 4)

 * Day 9 of the Russian special operation in the Ukraine - The Saker
 * Chronicle of events to force the world to peace 03/04/2022 - Soldat.ru, March 4, 2022

Day 10 (March 5)

 * Progress of the liberation of Ukraine. Rossa Primavera News Agency’s report on March 5
 * Day 10 of the Russian special operation in Banderastan - The Saker
 * Operational situation for the evening of 03/05/2022 - Soldat.ru, March 5, 2022

Day 11 (March 6)

 * Operational situation for the evening of 03/06/2022 - Soldat.ru, March 6, 2022

Day 12 (March 7)

 * Major military and political developments and major risks next - The Saker, March 7, 2022
 * Operational situation for the evening of 03/07/2022 - Soldat.ru, March 7, 2022

Day 13 (March 8)

 * LIVE UPDATES: Russia Declares Ceasefire in Ukraine From 07:00 GMT to Open Humanitarian Corridors - Sputnik

Day 15

 * Invasion of Ukraine, D+15, SITREP (#200) - David Fivecoat, March 11, 2022

Phase 2

 * The Russian army DESTROYS everything in its path: The Ukrainian army bears monstrous losses! Reports, maps, Yuri Podolyaka (evening April 19, 20 videos) - voenhronika.ru

(Noted, clearly overoptimistic, by far).

See also: Talk.

....

Draft enforcement change

 * Russian Federation Council approved the law on the unified register of military records and electronic draft notes - TASS, April 12, 2023

Donbass

 * 23 February: Full mobilization of the People's Militias (Mosin–Nagant 3-line rifle M1891)
 * 24 February. L/DPR forces made advances. 14 Ukrainian soldiers are taken prisoners near Volnovakha, 10 in Nikolaevka. Ukrainian shelling of L/DPR continued.
 * Mariupol Direction (Donetsk Theater): First Consequences Of Russian Support - South Front, February 25, 2022

Sumy

 * Russian forces entered Sumy, Topwar, February 24, 2022

Odessa

 * A strike on the "US" naval base in Ochakovo - Rusvesna, February 24, 2022

Kherson

 * "Russian forces entered Kherson", Rusvesna, February 24, 2022
 * Armored vehicles entering, largely unopposed; some shooting on the bridge mentioned in the second video.
 * Ukrainian military convoy destruction - 15 km long. Crimea front line. Russia Ukraine War 2022 02 25 (video)

Northern Crimea water channel

 * Water supply to Crimea restored, February 24, 2022

Kiev

 * 24 February. In a risky operation, Russian forces captured Gostomel (Antonov) airbase near Kiev (see Talk).
 * Russian Airborne Assault Force Holding Airport Near Kiev For 24 Hours Unblocked - South Front, February 25, 2022
 * »Only one thing is certain: there is war here« - Junge Welt, February 26, 2022

Rivne

 * 25 Feb 10 pm: Russian forces have reached Rivne airport in Western Ukraine

Lvov

 * 26 Feb 11 am: 🇷🇺🇺🇦❗Battles near Brody. This is Western Ukraine.

Ukrainian resistance

 * Kharkov
 * Mariupol
 * Interview with Sergey Volynskii, aka "Volyna", commander of Ukr. 36 marines brigade at "Azovstal", now a prisoner in Russia. He says that his unit surrendered on orders from the very top. --Milchronicles Telegram (also Cassad, AIF), June 27, 2022

Day Z

 * 10 am: France24 reports 8 Ukrainians have died.
 * 10 pm: Ministry of Health of Ukraine says 57 Ukrainians have died.
 * Z+1 0:51 am: At least 137 Ukrainians confirmed dead, more than 300 injured in Russian attacks - 🇺🇦 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
 * Z+1 10 am: Russian Armed Forces destroyed 18 tanks and other combat armored vehicles, 7 MLRS, 41 units of military vehicles and 5 combat boats during the operation in Ukraine - Russian Defense Ministry.
 * March 2: Russian MoD: The losses of Russia during the special operation amounted to 498 people. Ukraine - more than 2.8 thousand.
 * March 13: UN Says 564 Civilians Killed So Far in Ukraine
 * Sharii: 294 Ukrainian soldiers killed in a single day In Nikolaev region; apparently in March 19 strike on 79 ODShB; he has names and DoB details and considers publishing this info.

....

October 2022
Ukrainian losses estimates quoted by Russian sources are in the range 100-400 thousand in "irreversible losses".

Russian losses, not known; an estimate by Kvachkov, "more than in Afghanistan" (Soviet losses in Afghanistan, 40K; it is unclear what are his sources, and what losses he claims to describe, killed/wounded/departed. In the early stages of the operation, there were no legal consequences of breaking the contract, and those "500" numbers were said to be significant. Direct losses in early stages of operation could be significant, but no reliable numbers/dynamics. Official toll is way lower.

Official Russian numbers, end of September: Ukrainian losses, 61207 killed, 50K wounded; Russian forces, 5937 killed. The latter seems low; but/and likely it does not include L/DPR, volunteers, PMC, and perhaps national guard.

Kadyrov: in the week of 23 Oct, 2022 one of Chechen units in Kherson region came under Ukrainian artillery fire; 23 fighters were killed and 58 wounded, 4 of them seriously (announcement and discussion -1, 2).

DPR ombudsman 1, 2: Since the beginning of the year, 3,539 employees of law enforcement agencies have died in the DPR, 14,989 have been injured. Also, 1014 civilians were killed, 3265 were injured.

December 2022
Guerra en Ukraina'', December 16, 2022 (in Spanish)
 * Ukraine 2022 loss reports: 100,000 dead - ''

Claims of Ukrainian attack plans

 * The Russian Defense Ministry published the original secret order on the preparation by Kiev of an attack on the Donbass (linking to browser-readable digital documents)- TASS, March 09, 2022
 * "on organizing of preparedness of battalion tactical group of the 4 brigade of operative (quick) response on fulfilling warfare (special) tasks in operations of  United  forces of Ukrainian armed forces"; talks about warfare coordination, psychological evaluation, etc. Dates for various items provided; issued in January 2022 (first page, bottom left, 2021 corrected to 2022)
 * The Armed Forces of Ukraine were preparing an imminent attack on the LDNR long before the Russian operation - Igor Druz, Ren.tv, March 8, 2022
 * Russian MoD Makes Public Documents Confirming Preparation by Kiev of Offensive Operation in Donbass - Sputnik, March 9, 2022
 * The Russian Ministry of Defenсe: original documents – planned offensive operation against Donbass in March of this year. - The Saker, March 9, 2022
 * The GRU has exposed dangerous Ukrainian plans - Batko Milacic, The Saker Blog, March 10, 2022
 * Victoria Nuland - Gonzalo Lira, March 28, 2022 (video)

Explosions

 * Khmelnitskii, May 13, 2023
 * Ternopol, May 13, 2023 1, 2, photo.

Drones
against M777, published May 13, 2023 Flies into a house, published May 13, 2023
 * Lanzet
 * Commercial/unknown

Negotiations

 * Russia and Ukraine Came to Peace Terms in April... Then Boris Johnson Intervened. - Raheem Kassam, August 31, 2022
 * Western Allies Led By UK's Johnson Sabotaged Tentative Ukraine-Russia Peace Deal... In April - ZeroHedge, September 1, 2022

Fake news

 * A civilian Car Crushed by Russian Tank. #shorts #ukraine

Assistance for Ukraine regime #StandWithUkraine
See also Talk:Russian_special_operation_in_Ukraine, Talk:Ukraine_news/Current
 * UKRAINE NEO-NAZIS PICTURED WITH UK-MADE ROCKET LAUNCHERS - Matt Kennard, Declassified UK, March 10, 2022
 * How western spy planes keep tabs on Russian tactics - The Times, March 11, 2022 (Reposted on Reddit)
 * U.S. Quietly Assists Ukraine With Intelligence, Avoiding Direct Confrontation With Russia - Ken Klippenstein, Sara Sirota, The Intercept, March 17, 2022
 * Putin may lose his war in Ukraine, but the West could still lose the peace - Fraser Nelson, Daily Telegraph, March 31, 2022
 *  As one senior diplomat puts it: “If you look at all the options, our strategic interest is probably best served in a long war, a quagmire that drains him militarily and economically so he cannot do this again.”


 * Merkel defends her Ukraine policy - RT, June 8, 2022 (archive)
 * '' Germany's ex-chancellor claimed her policies bought time for Ukraine to prepare for conflict with Russia

Sanctions on Russia

 * EU sanctions against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine - European Commission
 * “Slava Ukraini!” Shouts Boris Johnson, Unveils Cutting Off Sanctions - Trust Nodes, February 24, 2022
 * Around $300 bln. of gold and currency reserves are frozen, about half of Russian reserves

Technology
US technology, a longtime tool for Russia, becomes a vulnerability - The New York Times. Free access summary in Rus. here on June 3, 2022.

Russian measures to counter sanctions

 * "The West defaulted on its obligations" uttered.
 * Nabiullina reappointed
 * Debt to corresponding countries is to be returned in rubles
 * Gas is to be sold in rubles (other commodities may follow)
 * "parallel imports" allowed (i.e. without the permission of the copyright holders)
 * Western software is not to be used in sensitive areas.

Western participation in war

 * The UK is Trying to Drag the US into World War III - Michael Tracey, April 14, 2022
 * US a ‘co-belligerent’ in Ukraine war, legal expert says - James Carden, Asia Times, April 19, 2022
 * Why is the West so afraid of the military defeat of Ukraine - Vzglyad, April 20, 2022 (translation)
 * “They must be out of their minds”: how the Collective West is stumbling towards nuclear Armageddon Gilbert Doctorow, April 21, 2022
 * Deliveries of US arms to Ukraine from 24.02.02022 to 22.04.2022 - Colonel Cassad, April 23, 2022
 * "The United States and its allies have begun to supply multiple rocket launchers (MLRS)" to Ukraine -multiple sources of unknown reliability, 1, h2. Some of the missiles have range of 500 km, and may be guided. That would be a major escalation, probably hitting targets in Russia.
 * "US TRANSFERS M142 HIMARS MISSILE SYSTEMS TO UKRAINE" -video showing M142 HIMARS (US MLRS, see above), unloaded somewhere, and implied to mean the transfer to Ukraine. Video is tagged t.me/britishintelligence, which is militaristic Ukrainian Telegram channel
 * Explainer: Britain’s proxy war on Russia - Mark Curtis, Declassified UK, September 27, 2022
 * James Meek, the journalist who knew too much about the war in Ukraine - Voltaire Network, October 26, 2022
 * He sent out his last tweet on April 27, basically reposting a tweet by a former CIA agent captioned “Facts.” The agent’s text reads: "Actually, it started long time ago. We learned this between 2014-2022. Not just now. It was a lab experiment on Russian TTPs [tactics, techniques and procedures]. On the EW [electronic warfare]. On everything. This is why Ukrainians (with our advice/assistance) are doing so well. Ask those in the IC [Intelligence community] or the UW [unconventional warfare] communities. We learned a shit ton.”
 * *James Gordon Meek should not be confused with a London based journalist named James Meek.
 * Award-winning journalist missing since FBI ‘seized classified docs’ in home raid: report - New York Post, October 19, 2022


 * British-run spy tech powers Ukraine proxy war, putting civilians at risk - Kit Klarenberg, The Grayzone, January 3, 2023

Boots on the ground

 * "Foreign Legion entered Severodonetsk" - Radio Svoboda, June 3, 2022
 * ...reporter: comments were given by guys from Australia, Georgia, Brazil, France..... Men from Australia and Georgia spoke on video.
 * Ru MoD: "Ukrainian forces withdrew from Severodonetsk to Lisichansk" - Interfax, June 4, 2022 (direct link, 403 Forbidden).
 * Is Britain at War With Russia in Ukraine? - Anti-Empire, September 5, 2022
 * Royal Marines have taken part in 'high-risk' covert operations in Ukraine, general reveals for first time - Daily Mail, December 13, 2022
 * Royal Marines deployed on ‘high-risk covert operations’ in Ukraine - George Grylls, The Times, December 14, 2022
 * Polish Ambassador to France: Poland will be forced to enter war if Ukraine fails to defend itself, Yahoo.com/"Ukrainskaia Pravda", March 19, 2023
 * (includes a follow-up "clarification")

Ukrainian refugees

 * https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine

Europe: 8.1 mln refugees, 4.9 mln with protected status, according to UN data, as of 14 March, 2023

In the West

 * Poland (1.5 mln refugees): "The president has signed an amendment to the Special-purpose Act", January 13, 2023
 * most of working age refugees now will have to pay 50% of the assistance after 120 days, 75% after 180 days
 * Germany (1.06 mln refugees, 881K in protected status): 1, 2
 * https://mein-freund-mykola.de/
 * Canada (150 K refugees, as of 29 Jan, 2023): Immigration measures and support for Ukrainians and their families, August 15, 2022
 * How much can you expect to receive: CAN$3,000 for each adult (18 or older), CAN$1,500 for each child (17 and under)
 * Netherlands (90K refugees) : "New rules on living allowance and reception for refugees from Ukraine" - government.nl, 16.11.2022.
 * Finland (50.7 K refugees): "Frequently asked questions about Russia's attack on Ukraine" - migri.fi, 28 November 2022

Refugees numbers are as of 14 March, 2023

Russia, Belarus
About 2.9 mln. (2871978) refugees, according to the UN numbers, 14 March, 2023

Information war
See also Totalitarian Media Regime
 * Facebook Allows Praise of Ukraine's Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion - The Intercept, February 24, 2022
 * YOUTUBE REMOVED VIDEO OF FRENCH WAR CORRESPONDENT IN DONBASS FOR SHOWING THE TRUTH ABOUT “AZOV” IN MARIUPOL - Stalkerzone, March 13, 2022

Mariupol Hospital Bombed, March 9

 * ''Main article Mariupol hospital bombing


 * Statement and right of reply by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at UNSC briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine - Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation, March 7, 2022
 * Locals reports that Ukraine’s Armed Forces kicked out personnel of natal hospital #1 of the city of Mariupol and set up a firing site within the facility. Besides, they fully destroyed one of the city’s kindergartens.


 * Russia Bombs Maternity Hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine Claims - Mother Jones, March 9, 2022
 * Disarming Ukraine Day 15: A Curious Hospital Bombing And 'No-Fly Zone' Pressure - Moon of Alabama, March 10, 2022
 * Moscow responds to Ukraine maternity clinic bombing accusation - RT, March 10, 2022

Analysis

 * Beware what you wish for: Russia is ready for war - Pepe Escobar, RT, May 22, 2016
 * A few disjointed thoughts about the current military situation - The Saker, February 24, 2022
 * Disarming Ukraine + Disarming Ukraine - Day 1 - Moon of Alabama, February 24, 2022
 * The collapse of Banderastan: tomorrow will be a crucial day - The Saker, February 24, 2022
 * Unjustified and Unprovoked? Russia’s ongoing ‘military operation’ in Ukraine - Gilbert Doctorow, February 24, 2022
 * Putin’s Nuclear Threat - Scott Ritter, Consortium News, February 27, 2022
 * America Defeats Germany for the Third Time in a Century - Michael Hudson, February 28, 2022
 * Why Russian operation focuses on Donbass, Black Sea regions - M. K. Bhadrakumar, Indian Punchline, March 2, 2022
 * Confirmed: US imperialists wanted to drag Russia into a war with Ukraine since at least 2019 - Failed Evolution, March 2, 2022
 * Putin is NOT crazy and the Russian invasion is NOT failing, writes military analyst BILL ROGGIO - Daily Mail Online, March 2, 2022
 * The Crisis We’re In - Phil Butler, NEO Journal, March 3, 2022
 * War was inevitable - shurigin, March 3, 2022
 * RUSSIA UKRAINE 2 - Patrick Armstrong, March 4, 2022
 * Observer Network Weekly Military Review: Russia can always provide us with lessons - Wang Shichun, Observer Network, March 4, 2022 (in Chinese, translation)
 * About the idea behind the scenes - Andrey Devyatov, Avrora, March 7, 2022
 * Ukraine faces defeat - M. K. Bhadrakumar, March 8, 2022
 * Updated: Russian Occupation of Ukraine Troop-to-Task Estimate - Ben Connable, RealClear Defense, March 9, 2022
 * COMMENT: Eastern Ukraine is close to falling, but Putin now needs a peace, fast - Gav Don, IntelliNews, March 12, 2022
 * Pentagon Drops Truth Bombs to Stave Off War With Russia - Joe Lauria, Consortium News, March 23, 2022
 * The Military Situation In The Ukraine - Jacques Baud, The Postil Magazine, April 1, 2022
 * "I am in awe of the sheer ruthlessness of Russia's withdrawals" - Edward Slavsquat, April 2, 2022
 * "The Withdrawal from Kiev Is Russian Escalation. It's the...Transformation from a Psychological Operation to a Textbook War" - Marko Marjanović, Unz Review, April 3, 2022
 * Opinion | Putin’s War in Ukraine Is a Watershed. Time for America to Get Real. - New York Times, April 11, 2022 (mirror)
 * Ukraine War - A conversation with Scott Ritter - April 14, 2022 (video)
 * UK is Trying to Drag the US into World War III - Michael Tracey, April 14, 2022
 * Kvachkov and Strelkov sum up the results of the first stage of the "Special military operation in Ukraine", social media video, April 14, 2022
 * Critical comments about first stage. As for Donbass, victory is not assured. There are many heavily fortified Ukrainian positions/settlements, some larger than Mariupol. Shipments of large quantities of weapons from the West is not prevented. Insufficient troop number, while Ukraine is mobilized. Also noted, lack of ideology, while Ukrainians have it, and various aspects of preparations, training, goalsetting. Similar points repeated again by Strelkov on 20 April, noting Ukrainian advantages or strength in drones, other intelligence gathering, and anti-tank weapons.
 * Russia at war - Evgeny Norin, translated for the Saker Blog, April 17, 2022
 * Oleg Tsarev, Telegram, April 19, 2022
 * ''I must say right away that the battle for Donbass will not be easy and fast. The main reason for this is that it is not unexpected for both parties.
 * Oleg Tsarev, Telegram, April 22, 2022
 * Fuel deliveries
 * And the ship is sailing... -Putnik1, April 23, 2022
 * Fuel deliveries. M/T Heather, 8931 m^3, Novorossiisk, 16.04.2022 10:00 -17.04.2022 06:04 local, current info: Reni Ukraine (2022-04-23 18:06 LT (UTC +3)) to Galati, Romania (2022-04-23 18:45 LT (UTC +3))
 * Daniel Kovalik: Why Russia's intervention in Ukraine is legal under international law - RT, April 24,2022 (mirror)
 * Plan A and Plan B, explained - The Dreizin Report, April 24, 2022
 * The West Misled the Public on Russia’s War Strategy, and the Results Are Starting to show in Donbass - The Silksworth Post, April 28, 2022
 * Putin’s War Decision and its Consequences - Gordon M. Hahn, April 28, 2022
 * Glazyev: For those who still don’t understand - The Saker Blog, May 4, 2022
 * Two months of Operation Z - Ljubiša Malenica, Tthe Saker Blog, May 12, 2022
 * MSM Offers Rare Glimpse Into How Bad Things Are Really Going For Ukrainian Forces - Caitlin Johnstone, May 27, 2022
 * Vladislav Ugolniy: Ukraine's unity is crumbling amid serious military losses in the Donbass and Zelensky is feeling the heat - RT, May 30, 2022 ( original )
 * Ukraine: The demise of the West - Cameron Leckie, July 8, 2022
 * The Russo-Ukrainian War — A Six Month Retrospective - Big Serge, August 31, 2022
 * With your back against the wall: why Russia intervened in Ukraine in February - Anti-Spiegel, October 27, 2022
 * The Jig Is Up - William Schryver, July 14, 2023