The Peanut Gallery: Daring Drone Strikes Deep in Russia Signal New Phase in Ukraine War

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1. Welcome to the [Peanut Gallery](https://www.nuttyspectacle.com/)! Today Biden signed Ukraine’s deliverance.

   Please remember that I know nothing.

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   **/r/TheNuttySpectacle:**

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   >Moldovan authorities filed a criminal case against Yevgenia Gutsul, the Kremlin-affiliated governor of the pro-Russian Moldovan autonomous region of Gagauzia, for campaign finance violations as Moldovan officials continue to warn about Russia’s threat to Moldova.

   Long-time contributor to the community, /u/Per_Sona_, wrote an article today providing vital context on the Moldovan situation. It’s a fascinating read and I encourage everyone to [check it out.](https://www.reddit.com/r/TheNuttySpectacle/comments/1cc0nuh/over_the_fencea_small_overview_of_the_moldova/)

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   **[Ukraine:](https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-24-2024)**

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   >US President Joe Biden announced on April 24 that the US will begin sending military equipment to Ukraine “a few hours” after signing a bill that will provide roughly $60 billion of assistance to Ukraine.

   Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty we are free at last!

   Look, I know Ukraine is the real victim of these delays, and I’m aware that I’m just some guy ranting at the internet from an armchair, but can we please talk about *my* suffering for a minute? Do you know how much of a pain in the ass it is to write about this damn bill for four months straight?! I ran out of new things to say in fuckin’ February. There are only so many ways to call Mike Johnson a gutter wallowing cum goblin before you start reusing variations. If I never have to talk about this bill again then I’ll die a happy man.

   Alrighty. I just needed to get that off my chest. So what’s the situation like in Ukraine, ISW? How’re our boys doing?

   >The bill’s relatively quick passage through the US Senate has eliminated a potential source of delay, however, and US security assistance may arrive at the frontline in Ukraine within the next few weeks ahead of Russian expectations. The battlefield situation will continue to degrade until Ukrainian forces can receive and use enough military equipment at scale, however, and Ukrainian forces may still struggle to defend against Russian efforts near Chasiv Yar and northwest of Avdiivka in the near term.

   >Russian forces have recently intensified offensive operations east of Chasiv Yar and northwest of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast in an effort to take advantage of the limited window before US security assistance arrives in Ukraine.

   Ah. Fucked. The situation is fucked, at least in the short-term. Mike Johnson is such a sewer splashing spunk gnome. His delays stuck Ukraine in this shit position and now they’ve got to hang on for dear life.

   The Kremlin failed to make headway in Chasiv Yar today, meaning that despite mustering a force of twenty-five thousand, they’re slamming their face into a brick wall. Fantastic news, especially since they’re working on an extremely tight timeline. Ammunition is already pouring into Ukraine across the Polish border.

   Speaking of artillery shells, [Reporting From Ukraine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvfaV0Mbgk4) mentioned Kyiv used cluster munitions today in a major counterattack in the Severodonetsk direction. Kyiv experienced overwhelming success in their assault, retaking several positions around [Terny.](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Terny,+Donetsk+Oblast,+Ukraine,+84440/@49.0793351,37.6890917,10z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x412064d4b350b4bf:0x4b812197302dc90c!8m2!3d49.0919601!4d37.9601291!16s%2Fg%2F121_jrmt?entry=ttu) Fresh artillery shells appear to be reaching the frontline in a timeframe far shorter than the ‘couple weeks’ ISW predicted.

   I’m not surprised. Between Biden’s drawdown authority, the Czech artillery deal, and Kyiv’s emergency stockpiles suddenly lacking an emergency, the Ukrainians must be in the best material position they’ve experienced in months.

   >The United States reportedly provided an unspecified number of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine in March 2024, some of which Ukraine has already used to strike Russian targets in deep rear areas.

   >Western media reported that senior US officials stated that the United States secretly shipped an unspecified number of ATACMS with a range of roughly 300 kilometers to Ukraine in March 2024.[5] A senior US official reportedly stated that Ukrainian forces have since conducted strikes with the ATACMS missiles against a Russian military base in occupied Crimea and an unspecified target east of occupied Berdyansk, Zaporizhia Oblast.

   No wonder the Kremlin’s working itself into an informational tizzy. These are some *serious* losses. Like no joke, the S-400 Ukraine destroyed last week justified the entire first tranche of America’s aid delivery.

   ISW is concerned America’s delayed delivery of the ATACMS afforded the Kremlin time to adjust to the incoming threat, and, naturally, they’re correct, but when has the Kremlin ever been proactive about anything? Putin knew his army was corrupt, yet did nothing; Putin knew about HIMARS before they arrived, yet did nothing; Putin knew about Storm Shadows, yet did nothing. Why would they treat ATACMS any different? Or F-16s for that matter? Perhaps I’m committing a folly by underestimating our opponent, but can you blame me?

   I don’t see an easy way for the Kremlin to compensate. Fixed wing aircraft—the Sukhois chucking glide bombs—likely won’t suffer too much from deployment deep in Russia, but what about everything else? The helicopters? The logistics? Some shit can’t be moved.

   Like an oil refinery? How’s a Slav gonna move an oil refinery?

   >Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted successful drone strikes against Russian energy and industrial facilities in Smolensk and Lipetsk oblasts on the night of April 23 to 24.

   >Smolensk Oblast Governor Vasily Anokhin stated that the drone strikes caused fires at fuel and energy facilities in two raions in Smolensk Oblast.[21] Geolocated footage published on April 24 shows fire and smoke at oil depots near Razdorovo and Yartsevo.[22] Lipetsk Oblast Governor Igor Artamonov claimed that a drone fell in an industrial zone in Lipetsk Oblast on the night of April 23 to 24. Russian opposition outlet Astra reported that two drones struck the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant in Lipetsk City, damaging part of a building and forcing the plant to shut down two oxygen units.

   Yes! Yes! Feed me fire! Feed me blood! **Feed me the steel flesh of the Omnissiah!**

   Smolensk is roughly 300km from the Ukrainian border—that’s not to say Ukraine used ATACMS (they very clearly used drones), but I just felt it was a fun fact. Did you know Isaac Newton invented the cat door? That’s also a fun fact.

   Smolensk is getting hammered lately. [Just four days ago Ukraine knocked out a massive stockpile of refined petrol](https://www.nuttyspectacle.com/p/the-peanut-gallery-ukraine-smashes), and now they’re hitting the Smolensk oil depots. There appears to be a concerted campaign to sever Russia’s connection with Belarus.