It is now a NATO war

We start with Kadryov:

In recent days, we have been receiving information, but there hasn’t been concrete explanations. Well today, the Ministry of Defense clarified the information, because of which they left the cities of Izyum, Kupyansk, Balakleya. It was forced to preserve human lives. But that doesn’t mean anything. I, Ramzan Kadyrov, officially declare to you that all these cities will be returned back. We have our people there already, and guys who are specially equipped for this work, 10 thousand more fighters are ready to leave, and we will reach Odessa in the near future. And you’ll see concrete results.
I am not a strategist like the Department of Defense, but mistakes were made, I think they will draw conclusions. When you tell the truth, and you tell this truth even to their face…people like that, I always like to tell the truth. My people and I have spoken to all the commanders at the fronts, we have information from the field. And if today or tomorrow no changes are made to the strategy of the special military operation, I will have to go out to the leadership of the Ministry of Defence, the leadership of the country to explain to them the situation that is really happening there on the ground.The situation is very interesting, I would even say amazing.The fact that they left, gave up several towns and villages, there is a plus in this too.”

The change here that we see, is now a completely visible NATO interaction, planning, command, and control  The only piece missing is NATO troops on the ground.  The Ukie forces are being trained in the UK and in other areas in Europe and seemingly, some weaponry was kept in reserve.  There are a few things we have to say but let’s just start with a reminder that this Ukrainian ‘supposed’ win in one small area of this war, was driven by the decisions in Ramstein.

My opinion is that Russia lost this round.  But, it is only a round.  And this round signifies the NATO involvement.  The battle has changed.  We see a sea change that will need a concomitant change in Russia’s planning.  Perhaps this has been done and we do not see the whole picture.

I do not take any of the experts seriously at this time.  They are singing the Russian song (and I do too), but at the expense of honesty.  Why I say this, is exactly because of the explanations by the Russian Mod.  They never explain.  Why now and why in this manner?  I smell a rat but do not know if this is a maneuver by Russia, or if there is a real rat stinking up the corners.  We may say what we want, and we may justify anyone’s actions but we have to admit that this loss (temporary or not) has shaken the faith of many.  The main ‘faith shaker’ is of course the villages left in UkroNazi hands and reports of unbelievable cruelty to those people are already coming in.  The ones that loaded up grannies, children, suitcases, cats, dogs and chickens, and so on, and hot-footed it for the nearest border point with Russia or deep into Russian territory are the lucky ones.

The first explanation:

Russian troops that operate near Balakleya and Izyum to be redeployed for reinforcement at Donetsk direction in order to reach preestablished objectives of special military operation

◽️ With this purpose, Izyum-Balakleya group of troops had been redeployed to the Donetsk People’s Republic within 72 hours. Various deceptive and demonstrative manoeuvres had been carried out marking real action of the troops within the abovementioned operation.

◽️ The enemy had been under powerful fire attacks with the involvement of aviation, missile troops and artillery for preventing any damage to Russian troops.

◽️ Over 2,000 Ukrainian and foreign militants, as well as more than 100 units of armoured equipment and artillery have been eliminated within 72 hours.

https://t.me/mod_russia_en/4051

The question is whether these deceptive and demonstrative maneuvers were successful and how we count the success?  Clearly up to today, NO, because the Russian and Allied forces withdrew.   Tomorrow is another day though and this is not a sprint.

The second explanation:

◽️ Russian troops that operate near Balakleya and Izyum to be redeployed for reinforcement (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/4051) at Donetsk direction in order to reach preestablished objectives of special military operation.

🇷🇺 Servicemen of Izyum-Balakleya group of troops show their courage and bravery while conducting intense combats against AFU units. Footage of Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower systems (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/4054) and 2S-19 Msta-S artillery systems (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/4053) in combat action.

💥 High-precision armament of Russian Aerospace Forces has neutralised (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/4048) the headquarters of 5th National Guard Brigade, the provisional bases of the units from 92nd Mechanised Brigade and Kraken nationalist group deployed near Balakleya and Chuguyev (Kharkov region), as well as the command post of 54th Mechanised Brigade deployed near Ray-Aleksandrovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

📹 Russian Defence Ministry has published footage of Western MD Msta-B 152-mm howitzer crews (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/4047) destroying AFU armoured vehicles and fortified positions.

https://t.me/mod_russia_en/4057

The only difference between the two explanations is that in this one, the second one, they paid attention to their soldiers, who are also crying out and wondering if they did a bad job.  I don’t think they did.  They did the job given to them by their commanders.  Anyway, this is a fine thing to do and shows care for soldiers.   Inherently there is nothing wrong with withdrawing forces if they were under stress.   It is wise of course, but ipso facto, one cannot win a war with forces that are not on the battlefield.

This is an existential battle for Russia and for all of us.  The outcry in the Russian sphere, and from the Russian supporters because Russia withdrew from the territory, is massive.  Of course, the moment one moves even a little against the prevailing experts or takes a look at the eddies on the sides of this river, one is suddenly a bot.

The Russian sources and experts are suppressing voices that need to be heard.  This is just about equal to the massive bot and troll operation that is being waged now.  If you have an honest voice, do not let anyone suppress it, and this is only possible if our level of discernment is very well developed.

In my opinion, the Russians must come clean and own this one, state in very careful terms that they were not successful in maintaining the territory as Russian, and yes, they are changing their focus to “Donetsk direction in order to reach preestablished objectives of special military operation.”  But, why even say that?  They could just announce that they are withdrawing troops from what is generally known as the Karkov direction, to the Donetsk direction, if they have to say anything at all.   What is this misdirection by spelling out so-called ‘deceptive maneuvers?   We’re dealing with the Russian forces who are now renowned for operational security.

The fact that we are treated to explanations, is in itself problematic.

• Is Russia losing the war with Ukraine?  No, absolutely not and not now, and not in the foreseeable future.  We have had during this +6 months, literally non-stop Russian victory.  This one defeat is meaningless in the big scheme of things, yet, I bet it is not meaningless for NATO.
• Is Russia losing the proxy war with NATO?  No, absolutely not, and as Mr Putin said and I paraphrase from memory:  “We have not even started anything.”
• Have we seen the end of this?  Absolutely not.  We have not seen the end of this in terms of people that feel betrayed, and we have not seen the end of this in terms of possible adjustments to the shape of the war.  Again I ask if one side performs a SMO, and the other side performs a WAR, how long before the situation morphs?

I pray for the Russian decision-makers.

Despite the shaken faith, Russia did count plenty of coup.  On the Nikolaev-Krivoy Rog and Kharkiv directions from September 6 to 10, the losses of the Kiev regime amounted to over 4 thousand killed and more than 8 thousand wounded.

There are also reports coming in with photo and video evidence that the Russian soldiers are protecting the huge columns of refugees fleeing the area, and very easy prey for the Ukrainian forces while in convoy on the roads.  I have personally been part of such circumstances and under military protection, where one did not know whether the helicopter overhead was friend or foe.  War is exceedingly cruel and the trauma lays itself down almost on a cellular level, to be there forever.

I pray that this war is over speedily, although the political objectives must still play out.