Belarus claims that Wagner’s mercenary forces are training its troops
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A senior Russian commander appears to have been fired for voicing concerns about the Kremlin’s war strategy in a sign of growing divisions between front-line officers and the country’s military leadership.
The commanding general of the 58th Combined Arms Army, Ivan Popov, was dismissed after a leaked video showed him launching a brutal attack on the Russian military leadership, whom he accused of “hitting us from the rear, beheading brutally the Army in the most difficult and intense moment.”.
Britain’s Ministry of Defense said the “comments draw attention to the serious disaffection many officers are likely to have towards senior military leadership”.
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin claimed that Wagner’s boss, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, turned down an offer for his troops in Ukraine to serve as a unit in the Russian military.
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Putin ousts top commander for criticizing strategy as army divisions grow
A senior Russian commander appears to have been fired for voicing concerns about the Kremlin’s war strategy in a sign of growing divisions between front-line officers and the country’s military leadership.
The commanding general of the 58th Combined Arms Army, Ivan Popov, was dismissed after a leaked video showed him launching a brutal attack on the Russian military leadership, whom he accused of “hitting us from the rear, beheading brutally the Army in the most difficult and intense moment.”.
Britain’s Ministry of Defense said the “comments draw attention to the serious disaffection many officers are likely to have towards senior military leadership”.
Matt MathersJuly 15, 2023 09:00
US support for Ukraine emerges as key dividing line among 2024 GOP contenders at forum hosted by Tucker Carlson
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. A year and a half later, the fate of the brutal conflict is still on the minds of Washington and beyond.
However, these days, the war in Ukraine seems to be a central issue once again.
That renewed focus was on full display Friday at an event hosted by Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host.
Ariana Baio i Josh Marcus report:
Matt MathersJuly 15, 2023 11:53 am
Ukraine shoots down 10 Russian drones – Kyiv
The air force shot down 10 Russian drones across the country on Friday and overnight.
In a Telegram post, the Ukrainian air force added that Moscow had fired six Iranian-made Shahed drones at southern and eastern Ukraine overnight, four of which were shot down.
He did not immediately give details of any casualties or damage.
In southern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia province, where Ukraine has been engaged in a counteroffensive to retake occupied territory, 45 air and artillery strikes took place between Friday and Saturday, Governor Yurii Malashka said.
Russian forces shelled neighboring Kherson province 70 times during the same period, using mortars, artillery, drones, tanks, aviation and multiple rocket launchers, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Saturday.
There were no civilian injuries, he added.
Russian airstrikes over the past day killed a civilian in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province, Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Saturday.
Ukrainian forces have been pressing their counteroffensive in the area, making their way from Velyka Novosilka to the Russian-held city of Mariupol. Stock photo:
A cloud of smoke after a nighttime drone strike in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv
(AFP via Getty Images)
Matt MathersJuly 15, 2023 11:01 am
A large convoy of Wagner arrives in the village of Belarus – report
A large convoy of Wagner Group vehicles has arrived in Belarus, according to the military watchdog group ‘Belarusian Gayun’.
About 60 vehicles, including trucks and large buses, were seen moving northwest toward a camp in the village of Tsel.
“A combination of factors indicates that this is a convoy of Wagner’s PMCs [private military company]who entered Belarus from the Russian Federation at night in the Krichev area,” he said.
It comes after the failed rebellion of the Wagner Group last month. Warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner’s boss, ordered his troops to march on Moscow, but later rowed back, saying he wanted to avoid “bloodshed”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Prigozhin and his troops could move to Belarus after criminal charges against them were dropped.
Founder of the group of private mercenaries Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhi
(via REUTERS)
Matt MathersJuly 15, 2023 10:39 am
Why Allowing Ukraine to Ship Grain During Russia’s War Matters to the World
Agreements that the United Nations and Turkey brokered with Ukraine and Russia to allow food and fertilizer to flow from warring nations to parts of the world where millions are going hungry have eased concerns about global food security. But they face growing risks.
Moscow has stepped up its rhetoric, saying it may not extend the deal, which expires on Monday, unless its demands are met, including a guarantee that its own agricultural shipments do not face obstacles.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative has allowed 32.8 million metric tons (36.2 million tons) of food to be exported from Ukraine since last August, more than half to developing countries, including who receive aid from the World Food Program.
Matt MathersJuly 15, 2023 10:07 am
The president of South Korea will meet with Zelensky
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was visiting Ukraine on Saturday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky, South Korea’s presidential office said.
The surprise trip came after Yoon attended a NATO summit in Lithuania and visited Poland this week, where he expressed solidarity with Ukraine and explored ways to support its fight against Russia’s invasion.
Yoon visited the site of the mass killings in Bucha, near the capital Kiev, before visiting Irpin, a residential area that came under large-scale missile attacks.
He was expected to hold a summit with Zelenskiy later, his office said.
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Matt MathersJuly 15, 2023 09:23
Missing Russian general with ties to Wagner boss ‘resting’, official says
A senior Russian official has spoken about the whereabouts of a top general who has not been seen in public since the Wagner mutiny.
Andrei Kartapolov, head of the State Duma’s defense committee, said General Sergei Surovikin is “resting” and “not available right now.”
Matt MathersJuly 15, 2023 08:30
UK accuses Russia of ‘cynical attitude’ over threatened Ukraine grain deal
Britain has accused Russia of a “cynical manner” over threats to collapse a deal that allows grain from Ukraine to be exported to countries at risk of famine.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative is an agreement negotiated with Kiev and Moscow by Turkey and the UN in July 2022 to ease a global food crisis, allowing agricultural products from the war-torn nation’s southern ports to be sent without fear of attack.
It came with a separate deal with Russia to facilitate shipments of its food and fertilizer, which have been exempt from Western sanctions regimes in place since the invasion began more than 500 days ago.
Alisha Rahman SarkarJuly 15, 2023 08:00
Putin says Wagner Group has no legal basis and therefore simply does not exist
“There is no law on private military organizations. It just doesn’t exist,” Putin told a Russian newspaper late Thursday, referring to the Wagner group.
Matt MathersJuly 15, 2023 07:32
Why can Russian and Belarusian players return to Wimbledon?
Russian and Belarusian players will return to Wimbledon as neutrals this year after the All England Club lifted its ban on players from both countries competing at the championships.
Wimbledon was the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments to ban players from Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but was criticized by the men’s and women’s professional tours for doing so.
In response, Wimbledon was stripped of its ranking points and the Lawn Tennis Association was fined after the ban on Russian and Belarusian players was extended to the rest of the summer’s grass-court events in Great brittany
But in March this year, the All England Club announced it had reversed its decision ahead of this year’s Wimbledon to allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete, provided they agreed to strict conditions.
Jamie Braidwood has more.
Alisha Rahman SarkarJuly 15, 2023 07:30
