The SMO – summary from Two Majors

In general we should give more attention to the Russian SMO. Although comments abound such as ‘Ukraine is toast’, ‘it cannot continue for much longer’, ‘404 is off the map’, and similar, there is still furious fighting going on and the incursion into Russian territory (Kursk) is being fortified. It is clear that Russia walks through the Ukrainian forces like a hot knife through butter, the objectives of the SMO has not been reached in completeness. Let’s take a look at the objectives again:

-denazification of Ukraine
-demilitarization of Ukraine
-NATO defanged.

There is progress and major progress on all objectives. We note that some new breezes blow in Europe, with Scholz having spoken to Putin. No, he did not accomplish anything, but at least there was a phone call and nobody can say now that President Putin refuses to talk.  What he refuses to do, is to compromise the objectives of the SMO, or fall for quicky ‘peace agreements’ that are not based on the reality on the ground and the concept of indivisible security.  Russia has accomplished major feats since the SMO started.  The BRICS summit was a tour de force as a summit, and President Putin was clearly the star of the show.  The relationship with China is further strengthened.  With Shoigu’s visit to the Chinese PLA at the highest level, the integration of weapons technology is proceeding apace.  Economically it all looks good and sanctions are being busted, while payment systems in local currencies flourish.  The one concerning aspect is that the bank lending rate is sky-high.  I do not question the necessity for this from the Russian Central Bank, but I do question the long-term viability.

While China is Belt and Road, Russia is BRICS.

Kremlin Readout on the conversation with Scholz:

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Olaf Scholz, held for the first time since December 2022 at the initiative of the German side

The leaders had an in-depth and frank exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin reiterated that the current crisis was a direct result of NATO’s long-standing aggressive policy aimed at creating a staging ground against Russia on Ukrainian soil, while showing disregard for Russia’s security concerns and trampling on the rights of Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine.

Speaking on the prospects for reaching a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict, the President of Russia pointed out that the Russian side had never rejected and was still open to resuming the talks broken off by the Kiev regime. Russia’s proposals are well known and have been outlined, in particular, in the President’s speech at the Foreign Ministry in June. Any possible agreements must address security concerns of the Russian Federation, rest on the new territorial realities, and, most importantly, eliminate the original causes of the conflict.

The discussion also touched on the state of affairs in relations between Russia and Germany. Vladimir Putin noted their unprecedented decline in all areas, caused by the unfriendly policy pursued by the German authorities. It was emphasised that Russia had always honoured its commitments under various treaties and contracts in the energy sector and was still willing to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, if the German side showed interest in it.

Recent escalations in the Middle East were also addressed. Vladimir Putin informed Olaf Scholz on the efforts made by Russia to deescalate and seek peaceful solutions for the regional crisis.

The leaders agreed that following their telephone conversation, their aides would keep in touch.

At the front

The Russian military carried out large-scale strikes across Ukraine using long-range air and sea-launched weapons and drones Sunday morning, targeting critical infrastructure facilities providing for the operation of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, the Russian Defense Ministry stated.

Two Majors report:

Two Majors #Summary Overview for the Morning of 16 November 2024

🗓 The past week has been full of headlines in the world press about possible ‘negotiations’ amid the formation by US President-elect Trump of his administration and cabinet. The voiced lists include many critics of the Ukrainian regime and the constant allocation of money to Kiev. It is indicative that many of Trump’s people slated for appointments have found themselves on the Ukrainian website ‘Peacemaker’ or have been severely criticised by Ukrainian government agencies. Nevertheless, Trump has not yet taken office, and the Biden administration plans to pump billions of dollars worth of arms and equipment into the AFU by 20 January (the lion’s share of which will remain in the US, of course).

🔹 At the same time, with many catchy articles about ‘negotiations’ in Europe, military preparations for a big war with Russia continue. A US missile defence base has been opened in Redzikowo (Poland), and Rheinmetall’s profits are growing. Even Scholtz’s demandingly snarky call to the Supreme Leader took place against the background of another news about new deliveries of German air defence equipment to Kiev. That is, while the words in newspaper articles are separate, the real actions of the countries of the probable enemy are separate.

⚔️ On the front, the Russian Army retains the initiative, pushing through the defence of the AFU in several directions. Kurakhovo is shrinking into a semi-envelope, and heavy fighting has broken out in the town itself. The hysterical blowing up of the Kurakhovskoye Reservoir dam by the AFU did not help matters either. The volume of water was not enough to create a water barrier to the west of the reservoir.

🔹 The entry  into Kupyansk by our units was a new element.🎬👆Fierce fighting ensued, but the assault groups managed to gain a foothold in the industrial zone. The RFAF control zone is also expanding to the south, near Kruglyakovka and Kolesnikovka.

🔹 In Toretsk and ChasovYar, fighting continues for every house. Pokrovsk is being prepared by the enemy for defence, our troops on the outskirts of the city are pulling up the rear and expanding the zone of control around the previously reached borders.

🔹 In the Vremyevka direction, the front has also come into motion. It is reported that the RFAF are advancing towards Novodorovka and #Rovnopol. It should be understood that the AFU retained the same attack helicopters; at least one case of their use was recorded.

🔹 On the Zaporozhye front, the AFU is urgently manning the second line of defence with heterogeneous units, expecting our large-scale offensive.

🔹 From the Kursk region, news of “beautiful reports” became unpleasant this week. It is known for sure that extremely heavy fighting is going on, the enemy is throwing reserves and expensive NATO armoured vehicles into the battle to unblock some of its units. The AFU is drawing more and more forces into the region, which has actually become a new ‘Bakhmut Meat Grinder’ for them. Weather conditions are aggravating the situation for the enemy.

🔸 Due to the high consumption of AFU militants, Kiev is intensifying mobilisation activities, reporting the need to send another 160,000 people to the front. Despite the low level of morale and psychological state of the enemy troops, the draconian regime makes it possible to solve the task of maintaining an organised defence. The formation and arming of AFU brigades in NATO countries continues. Mass desertions and the low level of training of freshly formed enemy units have not yet led to the collapse of the front.

📌 Thus, the information wave about ‘Trump-style negotiations’ is not affecting the front. The Russian Army continues its offensive on several fronts, and heavy fighting is ongoing. It is most likely that the closure of the Ukraine Project by its Western masters will last as long as it is profitable. That is, until the ‘last Ukrainian’.