Washington’s Downed Drone + Growing Admissions of Ukraine’s Military Deterioration

Update on Russian military operations in Ukraine for March 16, 2023:

– Russian warplanes intercepted and apparently clipped the propeller of a US MQ-9 drone carrying out surveillance near Crimea;

– The US has no means of recovering the drone, though Russia may have an opportunity to recover it;

– While the drone operated in international airspace according to the US, it was collecting intelligence on behalf of Ukraine as part of ongoing hostilities, as a party of the conflict and thus threatening Russian national security;

– Bakhmut continues to face encirclement;

– The Western media has begun admitting to the grim deterioration of Ukraine’s forces under the weight of Russia’s strategy of attrition;

– Ukraine has lost the majority of troops trained by NATO over the last 8-9 years;

– Ongoing NATO training is rushed, incapable of meeting or exceeding Russia’s pool of trained manpower;

– Ammunition and weapons are also admittedly running out;

– Ukraine may or may not be diverting reserves for an upcoming spring offensive to instead fight in Bakhmut;

– Any possible counteroffensive around Bakhmut might indicate just how badly deteriorated Ukraine’s forces have become;

References:

The Duran – MQ-9 Reaper drone, military tries to de-escalate. Neocons want to escalate:
   • MQ-9 Reaper drone…  

Garland Nixon – WESTERN MEDIA SLOWLY ACKNOWLEDGES UKRAINE CATASTROPHE:
https://www.youtube.com/live/9den3V3i…

US Department of Defense – Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army General Mark A. Milley Hold a Press Conference Following Ukraine Defense Contact Group Virtual Meeting (March 15, 2023):
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcri…

War on the Rocks – How to Think About Bakhmut and a Ukrainian Spring Offensive (March 14, 2023):
https://warontherocks.com/2023/03/how…

Politico – Technology concerns imperil Gray Eagle drone transfer to Ukraine (2022):
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08…

Politico – ‘Ukraine doesn’t have any time to waste’: U.S. races to prepare Kyiv for spring offensive (March 15, 2023):
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03…

Washington Post – Ukraine short of skilled troops and munitions as losses, pessimism grow (March 13, 2023):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/…