Putin Recognizes Donbass Republics, Sends Russian Military to 'Denazify' Ukraine

[youlik]

So far, nothing clearly indicates that the next "surprise" for Ukrops will be Oreshnik again, but last time it was launched also from the Astrakhan region.

Oreshnik 2.0? Russia closes a section of airspace over the Kapustin Yar missile range until November 30
The Russian authorities announced the temporary closure of the airspace over the Kapustin Yar missile range in the Astrakhan region until November 30. This is evidenced by the NOTAM warning that appears. Experts attribute this to possible preparations for the next test or launch of the medium-range Oreshnik missile, which has already been used previously to destroy military targets on the territory of Ukraine.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry stated the need to respond to attacks by 13 ATACMS missiles on facilities in the Kursk region, carried out by the Ukrainian side. As a result of these attacks, the radar station of the S-400 complex and the infrastructure of the Kursk-Vostochny airfield were damaged. The agency then stressed that retaliatory measures would be developed and implemented.

The use of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile system has become one of the key topics in expert discussions after its first use. During the attack on the Yuzhmash plant in Dnipro, the missile, thanks to its high accuracy and speed, was able to overcome air defense systems. This approach underscores Russia's emphasis on using the latest technologies in response to the escalation of the conflict.

The closure of the airspace over the Kapustin Yar training ground has aroused interest among military analysts. This area is traditionally used for testing and launching ballistic missiles. The restriction may indicate the preparation of a new test or combat launch, which confirms Russia's growing activity in the use of missile technologies.

"Орешник" 2.0? Россия закрывает участок воздушного пространства над ракетным полигоном Капустин Яр до 30 ноября

To paraphrase a well-known saying, we can say that it is not a single Oreshnik...

The new Russian Gerber drone has become a disaster for Ukraine's air defense systems
The Russian Gerber drone, created to simulate the Geran strike drone, is becoming a serious problem for Ukrainian air defense systems, Forbes reports. This reconnaissance drone is made of polystyrene and plywood, which makes it much cheaper compared to full-fledged combat vehicles, but allows you to effectively distract the air defense forces of Ukraine.

The main feature of the Gerbera is its ability to externally copy attack drones, which forces the Ukrainian military to use limited and expensive air defense missiles on them. Thus, the Russian army achieves two goals: depletes air defense stocks and identifies the location of Ukrainian air defense systems, making them vulnerable to subsequent missile strikes.

Experts note that the effectiveness of such drones in the conditions of modern conflict lies not only in their cost-effectiveness, but also in their ability to disorient the enemy. Air defense systems designed to intercept real threats spend resources on destroying decoy drones, which reduces their readiness to repel more serious attacks.

Gerber allows Russia to use an asymmetric approach to combat operations, which complicates the work of the Ukrainian air defense. According to Forbes, the Russian army is actively using these drones to test the weaknesses of Ukraine's air defense, which has already led to the identification of vulnerabilities in some areas.

Новый российский дрон «Гербера» стал катастрофой для систем ПВО Украины

Another piggishness from Ukrops.

Ukraine used chlorpicrin poison gas against the military
A case of the use of unconventional weapons was recorded in the area of a special military operation in the Kurakhovsky direction. The commander of the detachment of the Union of Donbass Volunteers "Eagle" (Bars-23) with the call sign "Viking" reported that several soldiers of the unit suffered from exposure to an unknown chemical substance.

"A few days ago, several fighters were injured in our unit, who are currently undergoing treatment. The chemical used by the enemy is still unknown — research is underway. The situation is even more difficult for neighboring units, there are more victims there," the commander said.

He noted that the volunteers were provided with gas masks in advance and were trained in the algorithm of actions in the event of a chemical attack. These measures helped to minimize the consequences of the incident.

The use of chemical weapons in the conflict is of serious concern. Recall that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Use of Chemical Weapons was adopted at the United Nations in the early 1990s. Ukraine, like Russia, is a signatory to it. However, individual cases of the use of chemicals have already been recorded.

Last year, a similar incident occurred in the area of Gorlovka, where soldiers of the 7th separate assault brigade "St. George" were injured. Then the active substance was called chlorpicrin, which has a strong irritating and suffocating effect.

Chlorpicrin is an oily liquid with a pungent odor that affects the respiratory system. It causes lacrimation, coughing, and in high concentrations, toxic pulmonary edema and suffocation. Combined-arms and civilian gas masks serve as reliable protection against it.

Official comments from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the new case have not yet been received.

Украина применила против военных отравляющий газ хлорпикрин

Spoiler: Russian spelling

Пока ничего однозначно не указывает, что очередным "сюрпризом" для хохлов будет опять Орешник, но в прошлый раз его запускали тоже из Астраханской области.
Перефразируя известную поговорку, можно сказать, что не Орешником единым...
Очередное свинство от хохлов.

 

[axj]

But what happens if Belarus gets invaded next?

Good question. Belarus and Russia are almost one state and Belarus is covered by the Russian nuclear umbrella, with similar rules for the use of nuclear weapons ("threat to the existence of the Belarusian state").

One possibility the "certifiably insane" may go for is getting Belarus into the war against Ukraine first and then attacking Belarus from NATO countries. That would expand the war to the rest of Europe and complicate Trump's task of ending it.

Belarus entering the war may actually be more of a problem for Ukraine (speeding up its demise), depending on how big the NATO forces attacking Belarus would be. And the big question then would be if Russia and NATO forces would attack each other directly in Belarus.

 

[Jones]

Perhaps though it likely will bring even a greater headache to the West as it might trigger an even greater response. Having said that, I don't doubt that the West probably thinks it could be a great idea just as they have ignored the 'hazelnut' falling from the sky a few days ago.

Picture of a hazelnut flowering (catkin) and one can see where they got the idea for the name from.

Catkin means:


View attachment 103908

Wondered about the hazelnut in myth and folklore to see if there was anything to suggest why the Russians called the hypersonic missile Oreshnik. Couldn't find anything Russian, but there's this from Celtic and Gaelic folklore:

The Celts equated hazelnuts with concentrated wisdom and poetic inspiration, as is suggested by the similarity between the Gaelic word for these nuts, cno, and the word for wisdom, cnocach.​

There are several variations on an ancient tale that nine hazel trees grew around a sacred pool, dropping nuts into the water to be eaten by some salmon (a fish revered by Druids) which thereby absorbed the wisdom. The number of bright spots on the salmon were said to indicate how many nuts they had eaten.

In an Irish variation of this legend, one salmon was the recipient of all these magical nuts. A Druid master, in his bid to become all-knowing, caught the salmon and instructed his pupil to cook the fish but not to eat any of it. However in the process, hot juice from the cooking fish spattered onto the apprentice’s thumb, which he instinctively thrust into his mouth to cool, thereby imbibing the fish’s wisdom. This lad was called Fionn Mac Cumhail and went on to become one of the most heroic leaders in Irish mythology.

The Gaelic word for hazel is Coll. It appears frequently in placenames in the west of Scotland, such as the Isle of Coll and Bar Calltuin in Appin, both in Argyll-shire where the tree and its eponymous placenames are the most common. It also appears in the name of Clan Colquhoun whose clan badge is the hazel. The English name for the tree and its nut is derived from the Anglo-Saxon haesel knut, haesel meaning cap or hat, thus referring to the cap of leaves on the nut on the tree.

Could be that the Russians chose a name that some in the West might be familiar with, even though many will not get past hazelnut being the major ingredient in Nutella!

Then there's this from The Encyclopaedia of Cultivated Plants. Of interest is the Roman use of hazel (bolded):

The hazel bush is among the oldest plants in Europe and was already a popular nut in prehistoric times. In Asia, the records of the hazelnut go far back; in a Chinese manuscript from the year 2838 BCE, the hazelnut belonged to the five sacred nourishments God gave to human beings as a gift. In ancient times, the hazelnut was used as a medicine and tonic. In the first century CE, for instance, the Greek physician Dioscorides recommended hazelnuts to cure a cold and as a hair- growth medium.

The hazelnut also plays a role in a variety of superstitious practices. In ancient Rome, the hazel was considered a sign of peace. Peace and ceasefire negotiators carried hazel twigs in their hands as a sign of their good intentions. In Germany in historical times, court facilities were marked with the shoots of hazel. Hazel twigs were used as landmarks to mark property borders. The pointing sticks (or indicator rods) of court and forest sovereignty were made of hazel wood. In other areas, bride and groom were showered with hazelnuts at their wedding. This was done in hopes of making the marriage a happy one and with an abundance of children.

At times, it was even believed that witches and snakes could be warded off with a hazel rod. In the fairy tale “Cinderella” by the Brothers Grimm, the protagonist wants a hazel rod to protect the grave of her mother.The hazel shrub is believed to protect against lightning, flood, and storm. Hazels were believed—and by some are still believed—to have the powers of divination and mercurial energy. Therefore hazel rods are used as dowsing rods or divining rods or wands. Magic using hazels was banned by the laws of the Franks, the Lex Ripuaria in the seventh century, but remained over centuries. Up to the 17th century, people believed that they could track down treasures and detect water and mineral or ore veins with a hazel rod.

The hazelnut is still regarded as a symbol of fertility, sexuality, and immortality. It serves as a talisman and is a symbol of wealth and prosperity. In Celtic beliefs, the hazelnut gave one inspiration and wisdom. This can be seen in the Gaelic word for nuts, cno pronounced “knaw,” and the word for wisdom, cnocach. Ancient Celtic tales describe a sacred pool that was surrounded by nine hazelnut trees, which dropped their nuts into it. These nuts were eaten by salmon, a fish sacred to Druids. For each nut the salmon had eaten, it got one spot. The tale tells that the wisdom from the pool came to the Druids through their eating of the salmon.

In any case, the messages behind not just the name Oreshnik but also how and when it was deployed seem multilayered.

 

[Joe]

Many other people too from the now millions of visitors reading Andrei Martyanov's blog, (me included) - took it literally, that the entire industrial plant disappeared turned into dust like the Twin Towers, when he stated: "Yuzhmash - is the name of the LARGE INDUSTRIAL PLANT that was hit is no more, it simply ceased to exist after the visit of Oreshnik. It used to be a colossal plant which had its own bus routes. There is nothing left there, only dust." Because he didn't state it explicitly.

It's likely hyperbole. A more realistic take, and one that I came to myself after analyzing the situation, is this:

The Russian missile [Oreshnik] launched at Dnepropetrovsk carried a non-explosive warhead, Reuters reported, citing two high-ranking Ukrainian government sources.

According to the report, the missile was likely used as a warning to the West.

One source stated that the missile was equipped with mock warheads, resulting in "minimal damage." The second source confirmed: "The missile in this case did not carry explosives... There were no significant explosions as expected—just something minor."

Experts explained that removing explosives from the missile's warhead section, the heat-protected part designed to carry the payload, creates space for instruments used to evaluate the missile's performance during testing.

This was a both a demonstration for the West and a test for the missile manufacturer.