брифинг минобороны за вчераSo, first, Russian forces continue to conduct indiscriminate strikes across Ukraine, employing various missiles and Iranian attack drones. We assess that Russia has deliberately struck civilian infrastructure and nonmilitary targets, with the purpose of needlessly harming civilians and attempting to instill terror among the Ukrainian population elsewhere on the battlefield, starting in the north and the Kharkiv region. In the counteroffensive we assess, while it remains a dynamic fight, there have been no major shifts in territory over the past day or so. Ukrainian and Russian forces continue to conduct artillery strikes against one another along the frontlines, with Ukraine consolidating its previous gains, or their south near Bakhmut. Russian forces continue to conduct offensive operations against Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut, with some minimal games.
But the Ukrainians largely continuing to hold the line. On the Kherson counter offensive front, we continue to see deliberate and calibrated operations by the Ukrainians to move forward but have no major updates to provide in terms of territory taken back, we do assess that Russian forces continued to reinforce their defensive lines against Ukrainian forces. Across the battlefield, we've seen indications and anecdotal reports of mobilized Russian soldiers showing up for duty in Ukraine, but no indications of large troop movements at this time.
Рашисты продолжают наносить беспорядочные удары по Украине с пом. разных ракет и иранских дронов. Мы считаем, раша намеренно бьёт по гражданской инфраструктуре и невоенным об'ектам, чтобы без нужды причинить вред гражданскому населению и всяко его терроризировать - везде, начиная с севера и в Харьковской области. По контрнаступлению: хотя бои тяжёлые, пока нет заметных сдвигов по территориям. Украинцы и рашисты перестреливаются артиллерией вдоль линии фронта и на юге около Бахмута. Рашисты продолжают наступление у Бахмута, с минимальными продвижениями.
Но в целом украинцы держат линию. У Херсона мы видим калиброванные операции украинцев по продвижению вперёд, но пока нет заметных отвоеваний. А рашисты продолжают укреплять оборону. По всему фронту вы видим какие-то сообщения и слухи про русских чмобиков, которые уже оказались в Украине, но не видно передвижений больших групп военных.
Q: Thanks, appreciate it. So, operational question. And then a couple of periphery questions. The operational question is, there's been previous assessments that Ukraine could actually move it to Kherson City this week. Is that something that the Pentagon sees? And then I have a couple other questions.
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yeah. Thanks, Howard. So, again, we're not going to get into potential future operations, or, you know, operational timelines for the Ukrainians. I'd refer you to them. For those kinds of questions. I just don't want to put out information as it can potentially compromise operation security, but thanks.
- вроде раньше оценивали, что Украина может зайти в Херсон на этой неделе. Пентагон видит что-то такое?
- я не буду говорить про потенциальные будущие операции. Спросите у украинцев.
Q: And then there's a couple of things taking place in the periphery up in Belarus. There are about 9,000 Russian troops heading there. Does the Pentagon have any concern about an attack from Belarus either by Russian troops or some joint attack by Belarusians in Russia and also Russians and move nuclear capable aircraft to base near Finland? Does the Pentagon have any concern about that?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yeah, thanks, Howard. So, in regards to Belarus, it's something we're certainly keeping an eye on. At this time, we don't have any indications that would cause us to, you know, change our perspectives on the battlefield as it stands right now. And in regards to the movement of particular Russian aircraft or systems within Russia, you know, again, we haven't seen anything that would cause us to change our overall strategic posture or our posture in Europe.
- Что-то происходит в беларуси. Туда направляются 9000 рашистских солдат. Пентагон беспокоится, что они собираются напасть из беларуси, или совместно с беларусами? или что они переместили ядерные бомбардировщики поближе к Финляндии?
- Что касается беларуси, мы конечно поглядываем за ними, но пока не видим причин для беспокойства. Насчёт рашистских бомбардировщиков - тоже нет.
Q: A couple of questions, if I may. So, the State Department says that Iran supplying these drones to Russia is in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. To make sure I'm not being hypothetical. My question then is if it's in violation of UN resolutions, has the Pentagon taken off the table trying to stop Iran from supplying these drones? And then I have a follow up.
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: That thanks, Barb. So, our focus has been on providing Ukraine with the support that they need to defend their country. In terms of actions against Iran, again, I'd refer you to State Department and NSC on that. With all that said, you know, certainly they have highlighted in the past in terms of the potential for sanctions on the Russians and the Iranians when it comes to illicit arms sales and things like that. So, again, they would be in a better position to talk about that aspect of it. We have, of course, as we've said, in the past, seen the Russians employing these Iranian drones on the battlefield in Ukraine against a variety of targets to include nonmilitary targets. And, and as I highlighted at the top, that continues to be an area of significant concern.
- Госдеп говорит, что иран поставляет дроны в рашу, нарушая резолюции совбеза ООН. Если они нарушили резолюцию, пентагон не рассматривает попытки остановить иран?
- У нас фокус на том, чтобы помочь украинцам защититься. Что касается действий против ирана, пусть госдеп рассказывает. Мы конечно в прошлом подчёркивали возможные санкции для русскиз и для иранцев. Мы конечно видели, что русские используют дроны в Украине в т.ч. и по невоенным об'ектам. У нас вот такой консёрн.
Q: May I just also follow up briefly with a SpaceX question. Bottom line, do you consider given everything that has been communicated from SpaceX and Elon Musk in the last several days, do you consider Elon Musk a reliable supplier to the Pentagon?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yes, I'm not going to comment on any individual.
Q: OK, so you consider SpaceX a reliable supplier.
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: So, the Department of Defense has a very productive working relationship with SpaceX, certainly, you know, coming from my service background, as you know, we work very closely with that company and many others in the space sector, to provide a variety of communication and other types of capabilities that are that emanate from space. So, again, without focusing on any specific individual company, will continue to work with SpaceX and others to discuss satellite communication needs. And when we have something to announce we certainly will. Thank you, Ma'am.
- про спейсХ - после всего, что было от маска за последние дни, вы считаете его надёжным поставщиком для пентагона?
- я не буду переходить на личности
- ну ладно, считаете ли вы спейсХ надёжным поставщиком?
- у пентагона продуктивные рабочие отношения со спейсХ. Мы тесно работаем с этой компанией и другими в космическом секторе, для обеспечения коммуникации и других возможностей, которые даёт космос. Так что, опять, если не концентрироваться на какой-то отдельной компании, мы работаем со спейсХ и другими, обсуждаем с ними сатком. Когда договоримся, сообщим.
Q: Hey, thanks. Just a couple of follow up first, on the on the opening remarks we you talked about how the Russians were attempting to instill terror. Seeing if you could kind of elaborate a little bit on that. I mean, what is it that you've learned that draws you to that conclusion, as opposed to perhaps another conclusion? And if so, are you accusing them of terrorism?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yeah, thanks very much, Bill. So, on the first question, I think the targets that the Russians are selecting, speak for themselves, in the sense that as they conduct their invasion as they conduct their attack against Ukraine, targeting nonmilitary targets, innocent civilians, with no military value, literally, it's to instill terror, and try to create panic/fear, with the idea that somehow this is going to decrease the resolve of the Ukrainian people. I will tell you, if you look back in history at airpower campaigns, conducting these types of campaigns trying to strike at the psychological aspect of trying to power people down, it doesn't work. And if anything, you've seen that with the Ukrainians, it has increased their result. Certainly, from a U.S. standpoint, we're going to continue to stand by the Ukrainians and provide them with the support that they need, as they try to push these Russian forces back into and they defend their sovereign territory.
- вы говорили, русские пытаются терроризировать украинцев. Может, раскроете тему? С чего вы сделали такой вывод? вы обвиняете русских в терроризме?
- Цели, которые выбирают русские, говорят сами за себя. Они бьют по невоенным об'ектам, невинным жителям, в этом нет никакой военной ценности, это буквально чтобы насаждать террор, сеять панику/страх, видимо - план, что это как-то уменьшит решимость украинского народа. Я вам скажу, если смотреть на историю - прошлые компании по обстрелам с воздуха, попытки сломить дух - это не работает. Если на то пошло, с украинцами это работает наоборот, у них улучшились результаты. Мы конечно будем продолжать им помогать.
Q: Thanks so much. Um, one more on Starlink. Sorry, can you say whether any of the congressional funds, I guess it would probably be from USAI have gone to support Starlink at this point, is it or is it all from USAID? And then just separately, can you confirm the Washington Post report that Russia is going to receive Iranian Fateh-100 and Zolfaghar missiles?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Thanks, Felicia. So, on your first question. The Department of Defense has not paid SpaceX any funds in support of Starlink for Ukraine at this time. So, again, it's something that we're discussing with SpaceX in terms of what potential support could be provided, but at this point the DOD has not paid for SpaceX services as it relates to Starlink and Ukraine.
In terms of your second question, I've seen the media reports on that. But I don't have anything to provide at this time in terms of whether or not that is accurate at this point. Thank you.
- Опять про старлинк. Можете ответить, были ли потрачены какие-то деньги от конгресса, из того что они выделили на помощь Украине?
И ещё, можете подтвердить статьи в вашингтон посте, что иран собирается давать раше ракеты фатех и золфагар?
- пентагон ничего не платил за старлинк пока что. Мы обсуждаем со спейсХ, какую потенциальную поддержку мы можем предоставить, но пока мы ничего не платили.
По второму вопросу, я видел статью, но пока не могу подтвердить или опровергнуть.
Q: Thank you. Thanks. And the other question that I had, the other topic was about the Shaheds, officials that said back in late August, when these drones first started arriving, that maybe there were hundreds that were being shipped to the Iranians, do you have an estimate of how many have actually been sent or provided to the Russians by Iran?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: So, we assess that the Iranians have provided them with hundreds. That's about as specific as I can get at this point. Thank you.
- про иранские дроны. Когда в конце августа говорили, что дроны начали прибывать, говорили, что их сотни. Вы знаете точное число, сколько русские получили от ирана?
- мы оцениваем, что иранцы доставили сотни дронов, точнее сказать не могу.
