(Natural News)—Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu claims that the Ukrainian military has experienced nearly 500,000 military losses since February 2022.
Speaking at a ministerial meeting, Shoigu emphasized that Russian forces currently hold the initiative on the front lines, pushing back Ukrainian troops and preventing them from maintaining defensive positions.
Addressing the United States’ planned allocation of over $60 billion in military aid to Kyiv, Shoigu expressed skepticism about its impact on the battlefield. He suggested that most of the funds would go toward U.S. military production rather than significantly altering the situation in Ukraine.
Shoigu criticized the U.S. approach, arguing that it effectively condones Ukrainian casualties in the conflict with Russia to serve American interests. “The American authorities cynically state that Ukrainians will be dying in the fight with Russia for their interests,” said Shoigu.
The long-awaited, nearly $61 billion military aid package for Ukraine has finally been passed into law by the White House following months of political back-and-forth.
Highlighting Russia’s defense production capacity and tactical flexibility, Shoigu reiterated the Defense Ministry’s commitment to conducting long-range attacks on logistics hubs and depots supplying Western weapons to Ukraine. (Related: Ukraine running out of air defense missiles, giving Russia a FREE PASS to Kyiv.)
Ukraine rarely comments on the scale of its battlefield fatalities. But in February, President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that his country had lost 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield. Estimates based on U.S. intelligence indicate the losses are much higher.
Western sources claim Russian military casualties have surpassed 50,000
Meanwhile, the BBC has verified that Russia’s military casualties in Ukraine have surpassed 50,000, marking a grim milestone in the ongoing conflict. Over the past year, as Moscow implemented its aggressive “meat grinder” strategy on the front lines, the death toll surged by nearly 25 percent compared to the previous year.
Collaborating with independent media group Mediazona and volunteers, the BBC has meticulously tracked these casualties since February 2022. The investigation involved examining new graves in cemeteries and analyzing open-source data from official reports, newspapers and social media.
According to the BBC’s analysis, of the more than 50,000 alleged casualties – which is more than eight times higher than the only official public acknowledgment of fatality numbers given by the Kremlin in September 2022 – about 27,300 are confirmed deaths that occurred in the second year of combat. The BBC further claims that the actual number of Russian deaths is likely to be much higher.
Of the deaths confirmed by the BBC, 9,000 were allegedly Russian prison inmates who were recruited into the military with a promise of freedom after their service. Several thousands more were allegedly volunteers and civilians with little to no military training or experience.
The analysis also does not include the number of deaths of Russian-aligned militia units that come from the disputed territories of Donetsk and Luhansk, internationally recognized as part of eastern Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, responding to the BBC‘s findings, asserted that it is the “exclusive prerogative of the Ministry of Defense” to provide information on casualties, because of laws covering state secrets and disseminating information during the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.
Learn more about the deadly conflict in Ukraine at UkraineWitness.com. Watch this video discussing the recent Russian conquest of the town of Novobakhmutivka.
This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
- Biden regime tells Zelensky regime to stop bombing Russia’s oil refineries because it might cause global energy prices to soar.
- Russia claims to have seized the initiative in Ukraine following significant territorial gains.
- Ukraine suspends visa renewals for military-aged Ukrainians living overseas as punishment for NOT DYING in battle with Russia.
- Russia warns: Fresh aid package for Ukraine will lead to more Ukrainian casualties.
- Ukraine warns its frontlines could COLLAPSE at any time as generals fear severe losses from upcoming Russian offensive.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
