Pentagon Confirms US Boots Are On The Ground In Ukraine

"Two bombshell reports by the Associated Press and Washington Post Monday and Tuesday have confirmed that the United States has boots on the ground in the Ukraine conflict. Crucially, these troops are performing tasks separate from mere embassy security. ....... this is the start of perhaps inevitable 'mission creep' - as has been seen in other conflict zones (such as Syria). If US troops are doing inspections of Ukrainian arms and ammo, and presumably Russia is currently targeting any and all Ukrainian military bases, this puts American troops and assets in Russia's crosshairs, greatly increasing the possibility that the US and Russia could stumble into a direct shooting war." ZH

Anti-Russian Alliance Fractures After Japan Decides To Stay In Russia's Sakhalin-1 Energy Project

"Japanese government decided to officially screw the sanctions, and remain involved in the
(formerly Exxon-led) Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project in Russia, as it seeks a stable supply of energy (who doesn't) despite international sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine." ZH

Biden Lost Temper In Zelensky Phone Call: "Show A Little More Gratitude"

"President Joe Biden briefly lost his temper in a phone call with his Ukrainian
counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, after the latter kept pressing for more money and arms.

NBC has cited four officials familiar with a phone call ....."Biden had barely finished telling Zelenskyy he’d just greenlighted another $1 billion in U.S. military assistance for Ukraine when Zelenskyy started listing all the additional help he needed and wasn’t getting.".....Biden, reportedly showing his irritation, explained to Zelensky in that prior phone call, "The American people were being quite generous, and his administration and the U.S. military were working hard to help Ukraine, he said, raising his voice, and Zelenskyy could show a little more gratitude." ZH

Ukrainian Capital Without Power & Water After New Russian Airstrikes

"Much of the Ukrainian capital of Kiev is without electricity or water, after the latest round of major Russian airstrikes on Monday. The Russian military announced 'successful' strikes on multiple of the country's vital infrastructure facilities. These ramped up attacks have created a growing sense of panic with temperatures plunging and winter approaching." ZH

Emergency blackouts are being introduced in Ukraine

"Emergency power outages were introduced in Ukraine as a result of massive attacks on
critical infrastructure by Russians." UAP

Ukraine Bombards DPR 49 Times Over Past Day

"Ukraine Bombards DPR 49 Times Over Past Day." Sputnik

 

Ukrainian defenders destroy Russian Tunguska air-defence system in Ukraine’s south

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine have destroyed a Russian Tunguska air-defence system and a
Pantsir-S1 air-defence system." UAP

Unmanned surface vehicles hit Admiral Makarov, flagship of Russian Black Sea Fleet

"At least three ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, including the Admiral Makarov flagship,
were damaged as a result of the unmanned surface vessel [USV] attack." UAP

Russia Suspends Participation In Ukraine Grain Deal After "Massive" Drone Attack On Black Sea Fleet

"Russia suspended its participation in the grain and other agricultural products export deal
from Ukraine after a swarm of drones targeted at least one Russian warship.

Following the attack, Moscow immediately suspended its compliance with the deal, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was formed in July and ended a five-month Russian blockade of Ukraine's ports." ZH

Russia reports ‘abuse’ of Ukraine grain corridor

"The deal which Russia signed with Türkiye and the UN to allow the export of Ukrainian
grain via the Black Sea is being abused, including by smugglers, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.

Russian experts involved in checking ships sailing under the July agreement are being pressured by an “artificial” crowding of vessels in the port of Istanbul, the ministry said in a statement on Friday. The goal, it believes, is to push them into less rigorous checks of cargos.

Since the route was launched, “over 70 ships were detained. Some of them were banned for the systematic violation of the rules of navigation in the maritime corridor and attempts to smuggle items in specially designed secret compartments,” the statement noted." RT

Strict restrictions in power use in central Ukraine following Russia’s overnight attack on energy infrastructure

"Russian army carried out a series of new attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on the night of 26–27 October, damaging critical equipment. Strict restrictions on the use of power will be introduced in central Ukraine as a result." UAP

Support For Biden's Proxy War in Ukraine is Cracking Among US Lawmakers, Citizens

"Congressional progressive Democrats withdrew their letter calling for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, with Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the caucus chair, claiming that it was "released without vetting." However, an antiwar trend appears to be emerging in the US Congress, which is triggering concern in Kiev, according to the US press.

The CPC letter called on US President Joe Biden to pursue a "proactive push, doubling efforts to seek a realistic framework for a cease fire" and "every diplomatic avenue to support such a solution that is acceptable to the people of Ukraine."

"The alternative to diplomacy is protracted war, with both its attendant certainties and catastrophic and unknowable risks," the letter read.

However, the progressives' initiative was met with fierce criticism from their fellow Democrats, who accused the 30 signatories to the letter of undermining Washington's support for Kiev at a critical time." Sputnik

Authorities in Russian-Occupied Zaporizhzhia Order Phone Checks on Residents

"Russian-installed authorities in Ukraine's occupied region of Zaporizhzhia ordered phone
checks on local residents announcing the implementation of military censorship under Russian President Vladimir Putin's martial law decree." MT

New Covid-19 strains detected in Russia

"The BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 sub-variants of the Omicron strain of Covid-19 were detected in Russia last week..... are both sub-liniages of the Omicron variant of the SARS CoV-2 virus. The former branched from the BA.5 sub-variant and both are currently spreading in the US and Europe. Some people have dubbed them Typhon and Cerberus, respectively.....he newly discovered strains are more infectious, according to studies, but display similar symptoms." RT

Macron Urges Pope To Get Biden & Putin To Dialogue On Ukraine

"French President Emmanuel Macron revealed in an interview with Le Point that he urged
Pope Francis in a meeting at the Vatican to attempt to arrange direct dialogue between Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin in an effort to make peace in Ukraine. "We need the United States to sit at the table to promote the peace process in Ukraine," Macron continued. "Joe Biden has a real relationship of trust with the Pope. The Pope can have an influence on him for American re-engagement in Haiti and Ukraine." Biden is the second sitting US president in history who is Roman Catholic, with the first being John F. Kennedy." ZH