Putin is a “prime target”

Today an agreement was signed to store Russian nuclear weapons in a special storage facility on Belarusian soil. The agreement, according to TASS, was signed today in Minsk by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Belarusian colleague Viktor Khrenin. “During the meeting, documents were signed defining the procedure for storing non-strategic nuclear weapons in a special warehouse on Belarusian territory,” said a statement from the Minsk-based Defense Ministry.

The deputy head of the Main Directorate of Services in Kiev, Vadim Skipetsky, said in an interview with the German newspaper Welt that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “primary target” for the Ukrainian intelligence services. “Our priority is to destroy the unit commander who ordered his men to attack Ukraine,” Skipetsky said, specifying that the main goal of his administration is “Putin, because he coordinates and decides what happens.” Skibitsky also threatened to destroy the port of Mariupol, calling it one of the important logistical points for Moscow’s troops.

National Security Adviser Cho Tae-young said in a parliamentary session on Wednesday that the issue of sending munitions to Ukraine will be studied by South Korea after assessing the situation on the ground. According to the WSJ, Seoul has already done so through the USA. “So far, we have provided humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine,” Zhu added in the Yonhap report. However, Ukraine was subjected to an illegal invasion. We plan to consider this after observing the situation on the ground and in light of other situations.”

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said in an interview with pro-Russian blogger Konstantin Dolgov that “a new revolution could shake Russia if the faltering war efforts in Ukraine continue”. Prigozhin appealed to Putin to declare “martial law and a new wave of mobilization”. He warned that if Russian casualties continued to mount, “all this could end in a revolution, like in 1917. The soldiers will stand up and then their loved ones will stand up. It is a mistake to think that there are hundreds, indeed tens of thousands, of relatives of those killed.”

Russia announced the expulsion of five Swedish diplomats in response to a similar decision issued by the Stockholm government against five Russian diplomats. The Moscow government has also decided to close its consulate in Gothenburg and the Swedish consulate in St. Petersburg from 1 September. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained this in a statement.

Anti-government activists and those responsible for raids in the Belgorod region are gaining a foothold in Russia: The Freedom Corps of Russia has in fact declared that “patriots from Sochi” have joined the movement and posted photographs of leaflets with its symbol (the fist) hanging on the city walls. “Anonymous patriots of Sochi support the resistance movement! Leaflets in support of the legion appeared on the city walls. Freedom is near! Reads a message from the group. Located on the Black Sea in the southwest of the country, Sochi is home to one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences.

Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons are being deployed in Belarus: Moscow and Minsk were forced to take measures in the military nuclear field in response to NATO’s activities in this field. This was stated by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Interfax reported. However, Russia – as Shoigu said – does not transfer control of these weapons to Belarus and the decision on their use is left to Moscow.

“A group of Wagner fighters has begun to withdraw from Bakhmut,” the head and founder of the Russian private militia, Yevgeny Prigozhin, wrote on Telegram, posting a video clip of greetings and handshakes between him and the soldiers with their faces covered.

Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin may be using his newfound power derived from Bakhmut’s capture to intensify his attacks against the Russian military establishment and elites: writes the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its daily report on the progress of the conflict. In his interview on Tuesday with pro-Russian blogger Konstantin Dolgov, Prigozhin said the Russian military leadership has so far failed to achieve the main goals of the war in Ukraine. He accused Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Army Chief of Staff General Valery Gerasimov of obstructing support and supplies for his mercenaries. Prigozhin also criticized Shoigu’s son-in-law and daughter, the American Study Center continues, for being stereotypical children of the Russian elite, whose life experience is in stark contrast to those fighting in Ukraine. Wagner’s patron then warned that Russian public opinion could turn violent toward the country’s elite: the remarks, which think tank experts define as “subtle and somewhat vague threats” and which mark a detour in his long-running disputes with Russia’s military establishment. And some of the country’s elite.