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Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Against Russian Forces Remains Stalled – What Happened So Far
(CTN NEWS) – The counteroffensive launched by Ukraine against Russian soldiers has not yet gotten the traction that some unduly optimistic commentators had predicted. It seems to be setting for a bigger act so far.
The southern provinces, including Zaporizhzhia, have seen minor gains from offensive operations so far, but multi-layered Russian defences have proven difficult to penetrate.
As it would mean severing Russia’s land-bridge between occupied Crimea and eastern Donetsk, the region is viewed as a strategic priority for Ukraine.
However, there are also indications that Ukrainian forces are hedging their bets, attempting to reverse Russian gains around Bakhmut, and taking advantage of what they see as weaknesses elsewhere in the east.
The Ukrainians seem to be trying to drag Russian units in multiple directions, figuring out which might be weak or exploiting lines dividing different battalions, rather than making a show of overwhelming power that concentrates freshly formed brigades in one direction.
Ukrainian Forces 1st Goal
The primary objective, according to Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, was to eliminate as many Russian draftee units as possible and “increase the psychological pressure on the Russian army.”
He added that Ukrainian forces are “testing at the same time to see which areas are the weakest.”
In order to make the Russians commit additional troops to defend a city they took more than six months to destroy and occupy, this has included new assault operations surrounding Bakhmut.
According to Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of the Ukrainian Land Forces, the Russians “continue to move some of the most combat-ready units to the Bakhmut direction.”
Perhaps more unexpectedly, there are signs that the Ukrainians are making headway south of what has historically been the equally immobile but highly energetic Vuhledar front as well as close to the city of Donetsk, where the line of contact has long been frozen.
The Russians must attempt to defend a meandering front line that is nearly 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) long and contains some units that have already been attacked and repaired, while the Ukrainians have the luxury of choosing the targets for their attacks.
Nevertheless, it is a difficult task since, crucially, Ukrainian forces lack air superiority and must launch a frontal attack against well-prepared defence positions in the south.
There was never a chance that the Ukrainians would make the kind of lightning gains they did in Kharkiv last autumn; the Russians have had months to strengthen defences here.
Study of War Take-Aways
It’s way too early for takeaways, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
This week, it stated that “the vast majority of Ukraine’s counteroffensive forces have not yet been committed and Russian defenses are not consistently strong along all sectors of the front line.”
At this early point, there are, in Matthew Schmidt’s opinion, more problems than there are solutions. Schmidt is an associate professor of national security at the University of New Haven.
The Russians “Are they responding strategically? Are they deploying soldiers and supplies as if the current area of conflict is the major objective? he asks.
“Only around 25% of the entire Ukrainian force appears to be involved; what are the other 75% doing? Are the Russians uncertain about their intended use?
The Ukrainians will be hoping that the Russian military command, which is now directly in charge of the soldiers in Ukraine and is led by Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov, will make some bad decisions.
According to Mick Ryan, a former commander in the Australian military, “There is an old saying that ‘when your enemy is making mistakes, don’t get in their way.'”
Gerasimov has a history of making strategic errors, not the least of which was the poorly planned initial assault in February 2022.
High Use Of Anti-Tank Munitions
The Ukrainians have been losing mine-clearing tanks and other armour as they attempt to break through, and it appears that the Russian strategy for protecting their lines in the south is working reasonably well so far.
Open-source video that is accessible reveals that heavy anti-tank ammunition use is having an adverse effect on Ukrainian front-line units.
“A first [Russian] echelon of forces repels or slows attacking forces before a second echelon of forces counterattacks against any enemy breakthrough,” according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in Washington.
While obstacles can be successfully avoided using mine-clearing vehicles, bulldozers, mine ploughs, and other engineering equipment.
It becomes difficult to do so in the presence of drones that provide real-time data to enemy artillery and aviation, according to a Ukrainian officer who acknowledged the problem in a written statement.
It’s important to note that Russian units from the 58th Combined Arms Army are among the most effective in the military in one hotly disputed region.
According to Matthew Schmidt, associate professor at the University of New Haven, the Russian air force may play a crucial role in the upcoming weeks after a lacklustre performance thus far.
The effectiveness of their use of glide bombs will determine that. Can they fly their rotary aircraft safely? Is their Air Force back in the fray because they’ve figured out how to defeat Ukrainian air defences, in other words?
A senior Ukrainian military told CNN on Friday that it was difficult to advance because of Russian airstrikes and artillery.
“Their aviation operates in waves, just as it did in Afghanistan and Vietnam.
They work continuously, non-stop, all day long, either from helicopters or aeroplanes, according to a deputy battalion commander with the Separate Territorial Defence Brigade who spoke to a CNN crew close to Zaporizhzhia.
Additionally, he emphasised Ukraine’s lack of airborne resources.
“Aviation support is sorely lacking,” he declared.
Ukrainian units in the area had to adjust, frequently dispersing into smaller formations that were harder to spot.
Schmidt said the Ukrainians will need to pick things up quickly. Are soldiers acquiring the skills necessary to successfully penetrate Russian defences so that they may instruct and guide the next wave of the offensive?
The success of the counteroffensive’s major thrust depends on this learning effect.
“We are advancing, forcing the enemy out of positions, not as quickly as we would like, but we are moving forward,” the Ukrainian commander told CNN. The enemy is already frantically dumping reserves here in several spots.
If this is accurate and widely reproduced, Russian forces might be too dispersed to mount a successful defence.
Russians In Nearly 18 Months Of Conflict
It’s safe to say that after over 18 months of fighting, the Russians have learnt some difficult lessons.
Because precision-guided munitions require GPS coordinates, Russian military bloggers, who are frequently critical of the military’s performance, have praised the employment of electronic warfare capabilities that have interfered with Ukrainian communications and targeting.
This week, the Institute for the Study of War stated that while it is “unclear if continued successful Russian EW tactics are a result of superior capacities or improved Russian employment of these systems,” there is some evidence to suggest that they have turned into a top target for the Ukrainians.
However, a lot of what counts in the upcoming weeks will depend on things that happen far away from the front lines.
The judgements and survival of mid- and senior leaders on both sides, as well as the Ukrainian targeting of rear sites such as command centres, ammunition and fuel dumps, will have an impact on Russian capabilities.
In addition to writing the blog Futura Doctrina, Mick Ryan also closely monitors the conflict. According to Mick Ryan,
“if they can limit fuel and ammunition availability for Russian combat forces, the Ukrainians will restrict Russian responses to their tactical or operational penetrations and constrain the mobility of Russian reserves.”
We won’t even be able to watch the counteroffensive develop live. There will be bits and pieces of data, often days-old geolocatable footage, but confidentiality will be crucial for both parties.
As a Ukrainian officer put it, “Operational success is not just capturing positions, but also maintaining momentum and moving forward after breaching enemy defences.”
The trajectory of that momentum will tell the tale of Ukraine’s attempt to seize authority. The extent of its development may well alter the course of the conflict and have an impact on how it ends.
By the time Ukraine’s anticipated offensive is over, according to foreign policy veterans Richard Haas and Charles Kupchan, Kyiv “may also warm to the idea of a negotiated settlement, having given its best effort on the battlefield and facing growing constraints on both its own manpower and help from abroad.”
They claim that Ukraine will fall well short of defeating Russian soldiers, even if the West increases military aid.
Others say that Ukraine has no choice except to strike the Kremlin hard, which may ultimately include taking back Crimea (or at the very least making it into purgatory for the Russians).
Despite the fact that some observers view this as a dangerous fantasy, others contend that only such a humiliation will stop the Kremlin from engaging in new hostilities.
In conclusion, few would argue that this is the final war.
If the attack is successful in driving Russian forces from Ukrainian territory, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba,
“It will be the last. There will be more if not. If our access to weapons is interrupted, Ukraine will simply switch to a lower-intensity battle.”
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A recent report indicates that since Trudeau’s announcement of his gun buyback program four years ago, almost none of the banned firearms have been surrendered.
The federal government plans to purchase 2,063 firearm models from retailers following the enactment of Bill C-21, which amends various Acts and introduces certain consequential changes related to firearms. It was granted royal assent on December 15 of last year.
This ban immediately criminalized the actions of federally-licensed firearms owners regarding the purchase, sale, transportation, importation, exportation, or use of hundreds of thousands of rifles and shotguns that were previously legal.
The gun ban focused on what it termed ‘assault-style weapons,’ which are, in reality, traditional semi-automatic rifles and shotguns that have enjoyed popularity among hunters and sport shooters for over a century.
In May 2020, the federal government enacted an Order-in-Council that prohibited 1,500 types of “assault-style” firearms and outlined specific components of the newly banned firearms. Property owners must adhere to the law by October 2023.
Trudeau’s Buyback Hasn’t Happened
“In the announcement regarding the ban, the prime minister stated that the government would seize the prohibited firearms, assuring that their lawful owners would be ‘grandfathered’ or compensated fairly.” “That hasn’t happened,” criminologist Gary Mauser told Rebel News.
Mauser projected expenses ranging from $2.6 billion to $6.7 billion. The figure reflects the compensation costs amounting to $756 million, as outlined by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO).
“The projected expenses for gathering the illegal firearms are estimated to range from $1.6 billion to $7 billion.” “This range estimate increases to between $2.647 billion and $7 billion when compensation costs to owners are factored in,” Mauser stated.
Figures requested by Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs concerning firearms prohibited due to the May 1, 2020 Order In Council reveal that $72 million has been allocated to the firearm “buyback” program, yet not a single firearm has been confiscated to date.
In a recent revelation, Public Safety Canada disclosed that the federal government allocated a staggering $41,094,556, as prompted by an order paper question from Conservative Senator Don Plett last September, yet yielded no tangible outcomes.
An internal memo from late 2019 revealed that the Liberals projected their politically motivated harassment would incur a cost of $1.8 billion.
Enforcement efforts Questioned
By December 2023, estimates from TheGunBlog.ca indicate that the Liberals and RCMP had incurred or were responsible for approximately $30 million in personnel expenses related to the enforcement efforts. The union representing the police service previously stated that the effort to confiscate firearms is a “misdirected effort” aimed at ensuring public safety.
“This action diverts crucial personnel, resources, and funding from tackling the more pressing and escalating issue of criminal use of illegal firearms,” stated the National Police Federation (NPF).
The Canadian Sporting Arms & Ammunition Association (CSAAA), representing firearms retailers, has stated it will have “zero involvement” in the confiscation of these firearms. Even Canada Post held back from providing assistance due to safety concerns.
The consultant previously assessed that retailers are sitting on almost $1 billion worth of inventory that cannot be sold or returned to suppliers because of the Order-In-Council.
“Despite the ongoing confusion surrounding the ban, after four years, we ought to be able to address one crucial question.” Has the prohibition enhanced safety for Canadians? Mauser asks.
Illegally Obtained Firearms are the Problem
Statistics Canada reports a 10% increase in firearm-related violent crime between 2020 and 2022, rising from 12,614 incidents to 13,937 incidents. In that timeframe, the incidence of firearm-related violent crime increased from 33.7 incidents per 100,000 population in 2021 to 36.7 incidents the subsequent year.
“This marks the highest rate documented since the collection of comparable data began in 2009,” the criminologist explains.
Supplementary DataData indicates that firearm homicides have risen since 2020. “The issue lies not with lawfully-held firearms,” Mauser stated.
Firearms that have been banned under the Order-in-Council continue to be securely stored in the safes of their lawful owners. The individuals underwent a thorough vetting process by the RCMP and are subject to nightly monitoring to ensure there are no infractions that could pose a risk to public safety.
“The firearms involved in homicides were seldom legally owned weapons wielded by their rightful owners,” Mauser continues. The number of offenses linked to organized crime has surged from 4,810 in 2016 to a staggering 13,056 in 2020.
“If those in power … aim to diminish crime and enhance public safety, they ought to implement strategies that effectively focus on offenders and utilize our limited tax resources judiciously to reach these objectives,” he stated.
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Google is so closely associated with its key product that its name is a verb that signifies “search.” However, Google’s dominance in that sector is dwindling.
According to eMarketer, Google will lose control of the US search industry for the first time in decades next year.
Google will remain the dominant search player, accounting for 48% of American search advertising revenue. And, remarkably, Google is still increasing its sales in the field, despite being the dominating player in search since the early days of the George W. Bush administration. However, Amazon is growing at a quicker rate.
Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding
Amazon will hold over a quarter of US search ad dollars next year, rising to 27% by 2026, while Google will fall even more, according to eMarketer.
The Wall Street Journal was first to report on the forecast.
Lest you think you’ll have to switch to Bing or Yahoo, this isn’t the end of Google or anything really near.
Google is the fourth-most valued public firm in the world. Its market worth is $2.1 trillion, trailing just Apple, Microsoft, and the AI chip darling Nvidia. It also maintains its dominance in other industries, such as display advertisements, where it dominates alongside Facebook’s parent firm Meta, and video ads on YouTube.
To put those “other” firms in context, each is worth more than Delta Air Lines’ total market value. So, yeah, Google is not going anywhere.
Nonetheless, Google faces numerous dangers to its operations, particularly from antitrust regulators.
On Monday, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that Google must open up its Google Play Store to competitors, dealing a significant blow to the firm in its long-running battle with Fortnite creator Epic Games. Google announced that it would appeal the verdict.
In August, a federal judge ruled that Google has an illegal monopoly on search. That verdict could lead to the dissolution of the company’s search operation. Another antitrust lawsuit filed last month accuses Google of abusing its dominance in the online advertising business.
Meanwhile, European regulators have compelled Google to follow tough new standards, which have resulted in multiple $1 billion-plus fines.
Pixa Bay
Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding
On top of that, the marketplace is becoming more difficult on its own.
TikTok, the fastest-growing social network, is expanding into the search market. And Amazon has accomplished something few other digital titans have done to date: it has established a habit.
When you want to buy anything, you usually go to Amazon, not Google. Amazon then buys adverts to push companies’ products to the top of your search results, increasing sales and earning Amazon a greater portion of the revenue. According to eMarketer, it is expected to generate $27.8 billion in search revenue in the United States next year, trailing only Google’s $62.9 billion total.
And then there’s AI, the technology that (supposedly) will change everything.
Why search in stilted language for “kendall jenner why bad bunny breakup” or “police moving violation driver rights no stop sign” when you can just ask OpenAI’s ChatGPT, “What’s going on with Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny?” in “I need help fighting a moving violation involving a stop sign that wasn’t visible.” Google is working on exactly this technology with its Gemini product, but its success is far from guaranteed, especially with Apple collaborating with OpenAI and other businesses rapidly joining the market.
A Google spokeswoman referred to a blog post from last week in which the company unveiled ads in its AI overviews (the AI-generated text that appears at the top of search results). It’s Google’s way of expressing its ability to profit on a changing marketplace while retaining its business, even as its consumers steadily transition to ask-and-answer AI and away from search.
Google has long used a single catchphrase to defend itself against opponents who claim it is a monopoly abusing its power: competition is only a click away. Until recently, that seemed comically obtuse. Really? We are going to switch to Bing? Or Duck Duck Go? Give me a break.
But today, it feels more like reality.
Google is in no danger of disappearing. However, every highly dominating company faces some type of reckoning over time. GE, a Dow mainstay for more than a century, was broken up last year and is now a shell of its previous dominance. Sears declared bankruptcy in 2022 and is virtually out of business. US Steel, long the foundation of American manufacturing, is attempting to sell itself to a Japanese corporation.
SOURCE | CNN
(VOR News) – A ruling that prohibits emergency abortions that contravene the Supreme Court law in the state of Texas, which has one of the most stringent abortion restrictions in the country, has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States. The United States Supreme Court upheld this decision.
The justices did not provide any specifics regarding the underlying reasons for their decision to uphold an order from a lower court that declared hospitals cannot be legally obligated to administer abortions if doing so would violate the law in the state of Texas.
Institutions are not required to perform abortions, as stipulated in the decree. The common populace did not investigate any opposing viewpoints. The decision was made just weeks before a presidential election that brought abortion to the forefront of the political agenda.
This decision follows the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that ended abortion nationwide.
In response to a request from the administration of Vice President Joe Biden to overturn the lower court’s decision, the justices expressed their disapproval.
The government contends that hospitals are obligated to perform abortions in compliance with federal legislation when the health or life of an expectant patient is in an exceedingly precarious condition.
This is the case in regions where the procedure is prohibited. The difficulty hospitals in Texas and other states are experiencing in determining whether or not routine care could be in violation of stringent state laws that prohibit abortion has resulted in an increase in the number of complaints concerning pregnant women who are experiencing medical distress being turned away from emergency rooms.
The administration cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in a case that bore a striking resemblance to the one that was presented to it in Idaho at the beginning of the year. The justices took a limited decision in that case to allow the continuation of emergency abortions without interruption while a lawsuit was still being heard.
In contrast, Texas has been a vocal proponent of the injunction’s continued enforcement. Texas has argued that its circumstances are distinct from those of Idaho, as the state does have an exemption for situations that pose a significant hazard to the health of an expectant patient.
According to the state, the discrepancy is the result of this exemption. The state of Idaho had a provision that safeguarded a woman’s life when the issue was first broached; however, it did not include protection for her health.
Certified medical practitioners are not obligated to wait until a woman’s life is in imminent peril before they are legally permitted to perform an abortion, as determined by the state supreme court.
The state of Texas highlighted this to the Supreme Court.
Nevertheless, medical professionals have criticized the Texas statute as being perilously ambiguous, and a medical board has declined to provide a list of all the disorders that are eligible for an exception. Furthermore, the statute has been criticized for its hazardous ambiguity.
For an extended period, termination of pregnancies has been a standard procedure in medical treatment for individuals who have been experiencing significant issues. It is implemented in this manner to prevent catastrophic outcomes, such as sepsis, organ failure, and other severe scenarios.
Nevertheless, medical professionals and hospitals in Texas and other states with strict abortion laws have noted that it is uncertain whether or not these terminations could be in violation of abortion prohibitions that include the possibility of a prison sentence. This is the case in regions where abortion prohibitions are exceedingly restrictive.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which resulted in restrictions on the rights of women to have abortions in several Republican-ruled states, the Texas case was revisited in 2022.
As per the orders that were disclosed by the administration of Vice President Joe Biden, hospitals are still required to provide abortions in cases that are classified as dire emergency.
As stipulated in a piece of health care legislation, the majority of hospitals are obligated to provide medical assistance to patients who are experiencing medical distress. This is in accordance with the law.
The state of Texas maintained that hospitals should not be obligated to provide abortions throughout the litigation, as doing so would violate the state’s constitutional prohibition on abortions. In its January judgment, the 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals concurred with the state and acknowledged that the administration had exceeded its authority.
SOURCE: AP
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