Ukraine War, August 28, 2024: Russia advances in Donbas

Spread the love

1) “Russische Armee rückt in Ostukraine mit hohem Tempo vor – Kiew weitet Zwangsevakuierungen aus,” DiecWelt, den 28. August 2024 (15:13);

2) “Russian army advances at high speed in eastern Ukraine – Kiev expands forced evacuations; The Ukrainian army was successful in the offensive in the Russian region of Kursk. In eastern Ukraine, Russian troops continue to advance westward. Kiev orders evacuations in 27 localities,” Die Welt, August 28, 2024 (15:13);

3) Editorial, “ATACMS and Russia’s Sanctuary; The U.S.-made missiles could hit hundreds of military targets if Biden let Ukraine use them,” Wall Street Joirnal, August 28, 2024 (5:37 p.m.);

4) ISW Press (“Institute for the Study of War), “Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 28, 2024 (7:00 p.m.);

The Institute for the Study of War reportsbthat the U.S. is blocking the use of British long-range Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Russia. In it’s daily update, the ISW reports:

Multiple reports from Western media indicate that the US government is prohibiting the United Kingdom (UK) from allowing Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles to strike military targets in Russia. The Financial Times (FT) reported on August 27 that a source familiar with the matter stated that Ukraine’s use of British and French Storm Shadows may require access to American intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance in areas where Russian forces are jamming the GPS signals that the missiles use for targeting.[1] FT reported that “well-placed” sources stated that the UK government sent a request to both the US and France earlier in summer 2024 to grant Ukraine permission to use Western-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russia, and French President Emmanuel Macron stated in May 2024 that Ukraine should be allowed to strike military sites in Russia from which Russian forces attack Ukraine. The Telegraph reported on August 27 that the UK government supports Ukraine’s ability to strike military targets in Russia with Storm Shadow missiles but that the missiles also use unspecified, classified American systems, whose use requires US permission.[2] The Telegraph stated in a since-deleted section of its original web article that the UK has not formally asked the US to allow Ukraine to use Storm Shadows to strike military targets within Russia, and that a White House source stated that the US is concerned about how the use of the missiles — even without US approval — could escalate the situation and draw the US into the war in Ukraine. The Telegraph reported that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is taking a “consultative approach” to negotiations with the US and does not want to spark a disagreement over the issue. A source in the UK government reportedly stated that Russia is aware that Ukraine is asking for permission to strike military targets in Russia, so Russia has moved its “most critical assets” out of range of long-range missile systems. ISW continues to assess that although Russian forces have moved aircraft out of range of Western-provided Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles, a significant number of Russian military objects remain within striking distance of Western weapons, restrictions on which are allowing Russian forces to leverage sanctuary space in deep rear areas within Russia to support military operations against Ukraine.[3]

Oh, what a wonderful war it is! Amateur generals in the U.S. can simulate the battlefield experience of analyzing troop movements and tge progress of battles without the risk faced by real battlefield analysts of being killed by incoming missiles.

This game of war is far more exciting than any game of football. Analysts cheer their team on, without having to face the hard realities of war–deal soldiers and civilians, mangled bodies, destroyed homes, town and cities–all without having to put any skin in the game.

If Russian aggression Ukraine has unleashed a battle save civikization, American observers are content to fight this desperate war down to the last Ukrainian soldier and civilian. As long as they don’t have to get directly involved.

The cowardice of President Biden and Chancellor Olaf Schikz, staunch defenders of the policy of avoiding any actions that could lead to their countries becoming directly involved,pass without direct criticisms by the amateur generals, notwithstanding the tens of thousands of Ukrainian deaths that have resulted from their cowardice and their failure to meet the Russian threat to civilization head on.

The Trenchant Observer

Leave a Comment