Putin fires commander of Russian Black Sea Fleet

"Putin began another round of purges in the Russian army. After the explosions at the airfield near the settlement of Novofedorivka in the annexed Crimea, the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Igor Osipov, was removed from his post." UkraineToday

 

German Shipper To Halt Rhine Operations As Water Level Drops Below Critical

"From the last update, the water level on the Rhine River at Kaub, Germany, has fallen one 40 inches, below the critical level of 15.7 inches to 15.3 inches. 

Now the shipping industry is in disarray as low water levels mean barges can no longer transit parts of the river. Contargo GmbH & Co. KG said it would discontinue transport service on the middle and upper Rhine due to low water levels. 

Water levels on the Rhine River are set to drop below a critically low point by the end of this week, making it increasingly difficult for barge transport of goods -- including crude oil and coal -- as one of the worst energy crises in decades batters Europe." ZeroHedge

Ukrainian Secret Agents Are Scaring the Kremlin With Deadly Explosions and Covert Poison Ops

"A Kremlin-appointed mayor in the occupied city of Kherson was put in a coma and flown to Russia for treatment after he fell ill on Aug. 3. After “five months non-stop under bullets,” Vladimir Saldo was “simply overtired,” the deputy head of the Kherson administration claimed, denying that he had been poisoned. Russian state media accounts of the illness differed, with some claiming he’d had a stroke, while others said he’d contracted COVID. But Russian opposition media reported that Saldo had in fact been poisoned by a chef brought into his house the day before he mysteriously fell ill. It’s thought that

Ukrainian military strategists are turning to residents in Russian-occupied territories to carry out the attacks—including the poisoning of Saldo.

These undercover guerrilla agents, or “partisans,” were also thought to have been responsible for the assassination of another Moscow-installed official less than 24 hours after Saldo was taken to Moscow for treatment.

Vitaly Gur, who was appointed to be the deputy head of the town of Nova Kakhovka near Kherson, was shot Saturday as he left his apartment building. He died as he was being rushed to hospital in Crimea, Russian media reported.

It’s not clear if Ukraine has plans for future attacks behind enemy lines—but Kyiv issued a warning for Russian vacationers on Tuesday. Alongside a picture of thick black smoke rising from the Crimean air base, a spokesperson tweeted: “The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine would like to remind everyone that the presence of occupying troops on the territory of Ukrainian Crimea is not compatible with the high tourist season." UkraineToday

Air base in Crimea blown up by Ukrainian special forces – The Washington Post

"A powerful attack on a Russian air base in the occupied Crimea was the work of Ukrainian
special forces. It is reported by The Washington Post , citing a Ukrainian official. The official, who spoke to the newspaper on condition of anonymity." UkraineToday

Explosions rocked in Belarus at the airfield where Russian planes are based

"In Belarus, on the night of August 11, the sounds of explosions are heard and flashes are
visible at the Zyabrovka airfield. The military facility is located in the Gomel region. Therefore, starting from 00:30 on August 11, there were at least 8 outbreaks at the military facility. “From 00:25 to 00:32, explosions were heard, a shock wave was felt, several flashes of light were visible due to continuous cloudiness. The direction is the Zyabrov airfield,” the message says." UkraineToday

"Nothing Left In Pipes": French Towns Rely on Water Truck Deliveries For Survival

"At least 100 towns and villages have run out of fresh water. The French government has
stepped in to support these drought-stricken areas. French environment minister Christophe Bechu said in dozens of municipalities, "there is nothing left in the pipes," referring to freshwater systems that have run completely dry. He said the 'historic' crisis has resulted in the deployment of a fleet of trucks delivering water to areas in need. Besides France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands are all facing water shortages and falling water levels on inland waterways." ZeroHedge

First export of wheat under UN deal as two more ships leave Ukraine

"Belize-flagged Sormovsky left Ukraine’s Chornomorsk port, carrying 3,050 tons of wheat.

Marshall Island-flagged Star Laura departed from Pivdennyi, carrying 60,000 tons of corn." ArabNews

China’s Newest Attack Submarine Now Stationed Near Taiwan

"China's East Sea Fleet, across from Taiwan, has received a new submarine. The boat is unlike any currently in service, being distinguished by a radically angled sail.....the submarine is based at Daxie Dao Submarine Base, alongside older Yuan Class boats. This base is protected by a rocky archipelago and is near to several naval bases. 

This places it directly opposing the Taiwanese Navy. The East Sea Fleet submarine bases are north of the main Taiwanese Island. It also faces off against Japan’s island chain which act as a natural barrier to the open Pacific. China is increasingly operating east of this." NavalNews

 

John Bolton not amused by the 'low price' offered for his assassination by Iran; calls it 'embarrassing'

"A day after the plot to assassinate former US National security adviser John Bolton was
revealed by the Department of Justice, the conservative leader remarked that he was not particularly impressed by the low price offered for his killing.

The DoJ stated that an Iranian military operative named Shahram Poursafi alias Mehdi Rezayi had been booked for the assassination plot. 

Reportedly, Poursafi, a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had offered $300,000 to an individual in the US to kill Bolton." WION

Fresh Shelling at Nuclear Plant in Southern Ukraine Deepens Grave Safety Concerns

"As shelling continued at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the U.N. secretary general, António
Guterres, said he was “gravely concerned” the hostilities might lead to a disaster." NYT

Pelosi makes huge gaffe in calling China ‘one of the freest societies in the world’ after Taiwan trip

"Democrat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi appeared to make an unfortunate gaffe Tuesday
when she said after her controversial trip to Taiwan that communist-controlled China is “one of the freest societies in the world.” Lifesite