Cyber-hackers target UK nuclear waste company RWM.
Radioactive Waste Management says attempt was made to breach the business using LinkedIn
Guardian, Alex Lawson and Anna Isaac, 1 Jan 2024
Cyber-hackers have targeted the company behind a £50bn project to build a vast underground nuclear waste store in Britain, its developer has said.
Radioactive Waste Management, the company behind the Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) project, has said that hackers unsuccessfully attempted to breach the business using LinkedIn.
RWM is the government-owned entity behind a trio of nuclear bodies that merged last year to create Nuclear Waste Services (NWS). The new body brought together the GDF project, the long-established Low Level Waste Repository in west Cumbria and another body responsible for managing waste to develop a store expected to last 175 years.
In accounts for RWM filed at Companies House, NWS’s chief executive, Corhyn Parr, said of the merger that “we have seen instances of potential exploitation of ownership change through specific attack vectors, predominantly LinkedIn targeting”………………………..
Experts have warned that social media sites are used by hackers to break through security mechanisms in a number of ways. These include creating fake business accounts, deceptive messages to gather information or cause recipients to click on malicious links, as well as directly trying to steal users credentials for other secure logins……………………..
The government is in the process of finding a site for the GDF project, a subterranean network tunnels and vaults designed to house Britain’s highly radioactive nuclear waste. The project is forecast to cost between £20bn and £53bn, and expected to receive its first waste in the 2050s. It echoes similar deep repository projects in Finland and France.
Earlier this year, Allerdale in Cumbria was deemed geologically unsuitable for the facility, leaving two other sites in Cumbria and one on the Lincolnshire coast remaining on the shortlist. NWS is in the process of surveying each site and convincing communities to approve of a development, in the face of local opposition…………………………….
Digital security in the nuclear industry has been in focus since the Guardian revealed a string of problems with cybersecurity at the Sellafield site in Cumbria………….. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/31/cyber-hackers-target-uk-nuclear-waste-company-rwm
State papers: Plans for nuclear power plant on shores of Lough Neagh shelved over drinking water concerns
The Northern Ireland government was warned against proposals to build a nuclear power station beside Lough Neagh, archive files show.
Newsletter, By David Young, PA, 28th Dec 2023
The feasibility of the proposal was assessed by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE), a UK government body that was responsible for research on, and development of, nuclear power.
The Stormont government had been assessing the potential for a nuclear power plant in Northern Ireland in the 1950s and the shores of Lough Neagh, the UK and Ireland’s largest freshwater lake, had been identified as a possible location.
However, the AERE advised against this site, raising concern about water contamination in the event of an accident, particularly given that the lough was to be increasingly used as one of the main sources of water for Belfast.
The opinion of the AERE was outlined in a letter from its director John Cockcroft to then prime minister of Northern Ireland Viscount Brookeborough (Basil Brooke) in August 1958.
The document, marked confidential, is in archive files newly released from the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.
In began by noting that an assessment of the “siting problem” in Northern Ireland had been conducted by a body called the Reactor Location Panel two years earlier, in 1956…………………………………………………………………………………… more https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/state-papers-plans-for-nuclear-power-plant-on-shores-of-lough-neagh-shelved-over-drinking-water-concerns-4458627
‘Get on with it’: Johnson pressures Sunak over delayed nuclear power plans
Documents seen by i reveal that major deadlines set by the Government have already been missed
Boris Johnson has warned Rishi Sunak
that the UK must generate more of its own electricity through nuclear if it
is to avoid spikes in energy prices. Boris Johnson has told Rishi Sunak to
“get on with it” after leaked documents revealed the UK’s transition
to nuclear power has been beset by delays. Plans to power a quarter of the
national grid with nuclear energy by 2050 have slowed, with a number of
internal targets missed, i can reveal.
The documents seen by i show that
several key deadlines have not been met for the UK’s plan to rapidly
increase nuclear output. The UK’s net-zero plans rely on one quarter of
the UK’s grid being powered by nuclear reactors, and Mr Johnson told i
that nuclear is vital to help control energy bills and prevent spikes such
as those caused by the Ukraine war.
The launch of Great British Nuclear,
the governmental organisation dedicated to co-ordinating the UK’s nuclear
energy plan, was only completed six months after the initial deadline of
the end of 2022. Grants to be given to promising projects were only
announced earlier this month, despite a deadline of 2022 in the documents,
which were prepared for the nuclear industry as a means of explaining the
Governments plan. A deadline to give at least one project a final
investment decision by spring 2023 was also missed.
The documents show
there is a target date for investment decisions on two further projects to
be approved by October 2024. Mr Johnson – who declared his strategy was
the “big ticket nuclear solution” to net zero when he launched it –
is concerned about the future of what he considers his legacy. ………………………………………………………………………………The delays also follow a series of -turns from Mr Sunak onnet-zero policies, which were first introduced by Mr Johnson. The former
prime minister had prioritised green policies during his premiership. Six
development sites had been shortlisted by the Government as part of a small
nuclear reactor competition in October.
However only one site from
Rolls-Royce is thought to be currently under assessment from the Office for
Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and Environment Agency, while the five other sites
are yet to progress to this stage. At the time the shortlist was announced,
Rolls-Royce hinted at frustrations at the speed of progress, with a company
statement saying “now let’s move at pace to secure the first order”
i understands that new Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho was told to focus
on projects such as nuclear upon appointment, amid industry frustrations.
With the potential of an election next year, and little movement on the
approval of six shortlisted sites, tension is building over the future of
the project. One industry source pointed to the recent announcement of an
agreement between Tees Valley Mayor Lord Houchen and the firm Community
Nuclear Power to develop the new mini nuclear reactors in the North-East.
The deal was negotiated separately from the UK’s central nuclear
strategy, amid disquiet over delays and direction. An industry source said:
“The [Tees Valley] deal is something of a warning shot to the Government.
It benefits Houchen as these sites and high-tech jobs will go to Tees
Valley if approved, and it benefits the nuclear firms to try and hurry the
Government up.”
Some investors are worried that they will not be given
the go ahead for SMR sites before the next election, causing further
delays, as Labour could change the Government’s overall approach. Stefano
Buono, chief executive of nuclear firm Newcleo, told i his business was
willing to invest “billions” in the UK if the Government provided some
clarity on the future of nuclear. He said: “We welcome the UK
Government’s strong commitment to small and advanced nuclear but remain
concerned by the timeline for delivery. “Newcleo is ready to invest
billions of pounds of private money in the UK, and create thousands of
high-value jobs in local communities with our innovative reactors. However,
like others in the industry, we call for urgent clarity on where we can
locate our operations.
iNews 28th Dec 2023
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/johnson-pressures-sunak-nuclear-delay-energy-bills-rise-2818971
Sea level rise: ‘We can’t afford to wait’: a Cornish town faces climate threat head on
Earlier this year the north Cornwall town received a profound shock when
it was presented with a visualisation created by the Environment Agency of
the impact of rising sea levels on Bude. It left little doubt about the
seriousness of the threat and made it clear that global heating-induced sea
level rises will push the community into full-scale retreat. If nothing is
done, by 2050 rising sea levels will consume landmarks, such as the surf
life-saving club, and the Bude seawater swimming pool, as well as cafes,
businesses and car parks.
Guardian 14th Dec 2023
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/14/cornish-town-faces-climate-threat-head-on-bude
Nuclear attack on Northern Ireland viewed as ‘possibility’ after 9/11.
Nuclear attack on Northern Ireland viewed as ‘possibility’ after 9/11.
There were calls for decontamination units to operate at capacity while
protective clothing and supplies of antidotes, needles and syringes must be
‘built up’, senior civil servant urged.
Irish Times 28th Dec 2023
A nuclear-powered ship in Murmansk started to burn. Only few locals got to know about the serious incident
The fire brigade in Murmansk quickly extinguished the blaze that broke out on the 24th of December in a cabin onboard nuclear-powered container ship Sevmorput. State shipowner Rosatom never issued any information about the dramatic situation.
By Atle Staalesen, 28 Dec 23
Little information is available about the fire that broke out in Atomflot, the base for nuclear-powered vessels in Murmansk.
Only two short announcements were in the evening of the 24th of December posted on messenger service Telegram by the local Ministry of Emergency Situations (Emercom).
The first message posted at 21.17 pm informed about a fire on the territory of Atomflot and about the fire brigades that were on the way.
About 1,5 hour later, Emercom informed about its successful fire fighting……………
According to the emergency service, the fire covered an area of about 30 square meters in a cabin onboard the Sevmorput.
The Telegram messages were read by about ten thousand people. A few of them commented on the posts.
Where should we flee?” one of the readers asked.
Rosatom, the state nuclear power company that operates the Sevmorput, has apparently not issued any information about the fire. Neither has any of the company’s subsidiaries, such as the Atomflot or the Rosatomflot.
There is no information about the incident on the companies’ websites or their social media.
The fire could potentially have created a dramatic situation in the big Russian Arctic city. The Atomflot base is located only few kilometres from downtown Murmansk and a major fire on the nuclear-powered ship would have posed a serious threat to the about 270,000 population.
The Sevmorput is the world’s only nuclear-powered merchant container ship.
It is 260 meter long and was built in 1988. For many years, the ship lay idle in Murmansk and Russian authorities ultimately decided to scrap it. However, in 2013 it was instead decided to undertake a major renovation, and in autumn 2015, the ship was again test-sailing the Barents Sea. The following year, Sevmorput was back in regular service and has in the lastest years delivered cargo to military installations in the Russian Arctic, as well as to the petroleum development along the Siberian coast. The ship can carry 74 lighters or 1324 containers.
After the 2015 upgrade and safety evaluation, the reactor’s service life was prolonged with 150,000 hours aimed at keeping the vessel in operation until 2024.
It now looks increasingly likely that the ship will exit service and ultimately be scrapped. In a recent conference on the Arctic, Head of Atomflot Leonid Irlitsa said that his company plans to replace the ship with alternative non-nuclear vessels in 2024…………. https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/nuclear-safety/2023/12/nuclear-powered-ship-murmansk-started-burn-only-few-locals-got-know-about
How green is the UK Government’s nuclear energy strategy?
Small modular reactors have been touted as a solution to reaching net-zero – but how safe are they and will they do the job?
By Lucie Heath, Environment Correspondent, 28 Dec 23, https://inews.co.uk/news/how-green-is-the-governments-nuclear-energy-strategy-2824596
The Government has pledged to boost the country’s nuclear energy capacity, setting itself a target to power a quarter of the national grid with nuclear energy by 2050.
But i has revealed that the transition to nuclear energy has been beset by delays, prompting former prime pinister Boris Johnson to urge Rishi Sunak to “get on with it”.
Mr Johnson has been a vocal supporter of nuclear energy and has championed the development of new small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).
SMRs have been touted as a key solution as the world transitions towards a net-zero future, but some have raised questions regarding the green credentials and viability of the technology.
Here i fact-checks the key claims with regards to SMRs.
Nuclear is low carbon
True or False: True
Ed. comment. That’s as long as you don’t count the CO2 emissions from the full nuclear fuel cycle, and the waste disposal methods.
Nuclear power is considered to be a low carbon source of energy. It has a minimal carbon footprint of around 15–50 grams of CO2 per kilowatt hour (gCO2/KWh), compared to an average footprint of around 450 gCO2/KWh for a gas powered generator and 1,050 gCO2/KWh for coal.
According to the International Energy Association (IEA), over the past 50 years the use of nuclear power has reduced CO2 emissions by over 60 gigatonnes – nearly two years’ worth of global energy-related emissions.
While nuclear produces far less CO2 than fossil fuels, environmentalists dispute its green credentials, not least due to the high volume of radioactive waste created as part of the fuel cycle.
SMRs will play a key role in the energy transition
True or False: Jury’s out
Small modular reactors have many potential benefits that overcome some of the hurdles of traditional nuclear reactor sites.
Their smaller size means that can be placed in locations not suited to large power plants and the modular nature of their design means they should be cheaper and quicker to build.
But as of 2023, only Russia and China have successfully built operational SMRs, and neither are in commercial use.
Mr Johnson’s plan to have the UK’s first SMRs contributing to the grid by 2030 looks increasingly unlikely. Rolls-Royce, which was one of the winners of a Government competition to develop them in the UK, recently told MPs its project could be contributing to the grid by 2031-32 at the very earliest.
MPs sitting on the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee recently published a report that described the Government’s nuclear strategy as more of a “wish list” and said ministers need to make it clearer what role SMRs will play in the energy transition.
SMRs are cheaper to build
True or False: Unclear
This section fails to mention the one and only commercial application of small nuclear reactors - the NuScale attempt in the USA, which was a financial fiasco, and had to be cancelled.
One of the largest hurdles to the deployment of nuclear energy are the huge costs of developing new plants. In theory, SMRs should be cheaper to build due to their size and modular nature, allowing for prefabrication.
However, it is not known exactly what the cost will be to the public purse of developing new SMRs in the UK.
The Environmental Audit Committee recently launched an inquiry into the topic, saying it was “currently unclear what financing models will be used to fund SMRs”.
Critics of nuclear argue it would be wiser to spend money on the deployment of renewable energy, which is cheaper to build.
SMRs are safer
True or false: True in theory
Safety has proved to be a massive issue preventing wider uptake of nuclear energy in the past. Incidents such as the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident have sparked greater fears regarding the vulnerability of plants during a natural disaster, while nuclear stations can also be a risk during times of conflict, such as in Ukraine.
Proponents of SMRs say they are safer than traditional reactors, partly because their smaller core produces less heat, reducing the likelihood of overheating. A number of other innovations exist in their design which in theory should reduce the risk of failure.
While seen as being safer than large plants, SMRs are still associated with many of the same risks as traditional nuclear.
France’s Council of State opinion on a Bill relating to governance of nuclear safety in relaunching the nuclear sector
Only France could produce such a load of linguistical gymastics as this lengthy gobbledygook.
I’ve read the whole of the original, and still don’t understand it. I think it means that the Council of State thinks that what the government plans – is OK
It could mean a bit of privatising of some nuclear bits is OK. And the military connection is OK?
“the Council of State considers it unnecessary to provide, as the bill does, that the powers of the future authority do not extend to nuclear installations and activities of interest to defense”,”
“the bill modifies the rules currently applicable to ASN staff, in particular so that the ASNR can employ employees under private law,……… including 140 who will be automatically made available. of the Ministry of Defense for missions concerning it”
The Government has decided to make public
the opinion of the Council of State relating to the organization of the
governance of nuclear safety and radiation protection to meet the challenge
of relaunching the nuclear sector.
This bill, which includes twenty-two
articles, is organized into two titles respectively entitled “Nuclear
Safety and Radiation Protection Authority” and “Adaptation of the rules
of public procurement to nuclear projects” corresponding to its two
objects, which are distinct.
Title I includes provisions relating to the
missions and operation of the new independent administrative authority
(AAI) created by the bill, called the Nuclear Safety and Radiation
Protection Authority (ASNR) and resulting from the merger of the current
Nuclear Safety Authority. Nuclear Safety (ASN), which is an AAI, and the
Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), which is a
public industrial and commercial establishment of the State (EPIC). This
title also includes provisions relating to the statutes and representation
of staff of the new authority and transitional provisions, particularly
concerning employees currently employed by the IRSN.
Council of State 22nd Dec 2023
Sunak to scale back nuclear target in latest UK net zero climbdown
Ministers are preparing to scale back the UK’s nuclear power target in
Rishi Sunak’s latest net zero climbdown. Draft versions of a new
“nuclear roadmap” circulating in Whitehall suggest Claire Coutinho, the
Energy Secretary, will next month commit to building a minimum of 16
gigawatts of capacity by 2050, The Telegraph understands.
Under Boris Johnson, as prime minister, the Government promised up to 24 gigawatts of
capacity by the middle of the century. It is also understood the roadmap
will not include an interim target for 2035, despite this being a key
recommendation of a net zero review published in January.
The lower target is thought to follow private warnings from some parts of industry that
Britain lacks the required workforce and supply chains to deliver reactors
at the pace needed to reach the 24-gigawatt goal. It is envisioned that
nuclear capacity will come from both “gigawatt-scale” plants and small
modular nuclear reactors, which are a new generation of factory-built,
mini-power stations.
A Whitehall source on Friday suggested that the final
target remained a subject of internal debate, with Ms Coutinho still
supportive of an ambition to reach 24 gigawatts.
Hinkley Point C in Somerset, the only plant under construction, has been plagued by delays and cost overruns that threaten to push back the start of generation to the
2030s, compared to an original target of 2025. Earlier this month it was
reported that the price tag for the scheme is now set to breach the latest
£32.7bn estimate, up from an original proposal of £18bn, and owner
EDF’s Chinese partner, China General Nuclear, is refusing to put in more
cash.
After the nuclear roadmap is set out in January, the Government and
Great British Nuclear (GBN) are expected to announce the winners of the
next stage of a programme to fund development of small modular reactors.
GBN is also expected to update a list of sites suitable for nuclear power
plants, consult on possible routes to market for so-called advanced modular
reactors and investigate what technology should be used for future
generations of gigawatt-scale plants after Hinkley and Sizewell.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on Friday rejected suggestions
that the Government was planning to scale back its nuclear target. A
spokesman said: “The Civil Nuclear Roadmap will set how we will meet our
ambitious targets to deliver up to 24GW of low-carbon nuclear energy by
2050, or a quarter of the UK’s power demands.
Telegraph 23rd Dec 2023
Mystery fire breaks out on Russia’s only nuclear-powered icebreaker vessel as it was docked at Arctic port
- The Sevmorput, built in 1988, underwent extensive upgrades a decade ago
- Its owner stressed there was no threat to the ship’s nuclear reactor plant
By JAMES REYNOLDS and WILL STEWART, 25 December 2023
A mystery blaze aboard Russia‘s only nuclear-powered icebreaker cargo ship triggered panic in the Arctic port of Murmansk.
A fire broke out on Sunday in one of the cabins of the Soviet-made Sevmorput, currently docked in the northern Russian region bordering Finland and Norway.
The inferno spread some 323 square feet (30 sq metres) on the 830-ft ship (230m) before firefighters were able to put it out without casualties, Russia’s emergency ministry said.
‘The fire was quickly liquidated,’ Atomflot, which owns the vessel, said in a statement. ‘There were no injuries. There was no threat to crucial support systems or to the reactor plant.’
The ship, which entered service in 1988 and went through an extensive upgrade a decade ago, is Russia’s only nuclear-powered icebreaking transport ship, according to Rosatom. ………………………………………………..more https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12899379/Inferno-nuclear-russia-icebreaker-panic-murmansk-arctic.html
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Spain Confirms 2035 Nuclear Phase Out Deadline
Oil Price.com, By Charles Kennedy – Dec 27, 2023,
Spain has just confirmed that it will go ahead with plans to close all its nuclear plants by 2035, while Europe remains divided on whether nuclear energy should be part of the climate change solution.
The management of radioactive waste and dismantling of the plants will cost about 20.2 billion euros ($22.4 billion) and will be paid for by a fund supported by the plants’ operators.
The future of the country’s nuclear plants was a hot issue during the recent electoral campaign, with one of the main business lobbies calling for extending the use of these plants while the conservative opposition People’s Party (PP) pledged to reverse the planned phase-out. …………………… https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Spain-Confirms-2035-Nuclear-Phase-Out-Deadline.html
Ukraine confirms retreat from key Donbass town
https://www.rt.com/news/589722-ukraine-confirms-maryinka-retreat/ 27 Dec 23
Kiev’s top general has acknowledged Russia’s capture of Maryinka, saying his forces pulled back to the outskirts
Ukrainian commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny has confirmed the retreat of his troops to the outskirts of Maryinka, a key Donbass town, where Russian forces claimed victory on Monday after months of fierce fighting for the stronghold.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Zaluzhny acknowledged the pullback of Ukrainian troops from Maryinka, located to the west of Donetsk. He likened the heavy fighting for the town in recent months to Ukraine’s loss earlier this year of Artyomovsk (known as Bakhmut in Ukrainian).
“This is exactly the same as it was in Bakhmut – street by street, block by block, and our soldiers were being targeted – and the result is what it is,” Zaluzhny said. “This is a war, so the fact that we have now retreated to the outskirts of Maryinka and set up positions behind Maryinka in some areas is nothing that can cause any public outcry. Sadly, this is what war is like.”
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced on Monday that Moscow’s forces had fully liberated Maryinka. Ukrainian troops had dug in for nearly a decade, using the town as a key hub in their battles with Donbass separatists and later the Russian Army. President Vladimir Putin said the victory pushed Ukrainian units further away from Donetsk and would provide Russian troops wider operational freedom in future maneuvers.
Ukrainian officials have denied Russia’s claim of capturing Maryinka, saying that fighting for the town continued. However, Zaluzhny said Kiev’s troops remained only on the northern outskirts of the town. He added that although every inch of territory is important to Ukraine, “the lives of our soldiers are even more important to us.”
Kiev’s top general has clashed increasingly in recent months with President Vladimir Zelensky, whose office rebuked Zaluzhny in November for telling a Western media outlet that the conflict with Russia had reached a “stalemate.” Zelensky repeatedly hyped a long-awaited summer counteroffensive that cost Ukraine around 160,000 casualties and failed to make any significant battlefield gains.Russian forces achieved their main 2023 goal by thwarting the counteroffensive, Shoigu said on Tuesday. He added that the Russian military was steadily making strides toward overall victory in the conflict, “constantly taking more advantageous positions and expanding territories under its control in all directions.”
Russian forces achieved their main 2023 goal by thwarting the counteroffensive, Shoigu said on Tuesday. He added that the Russian military was steadily making strides toward overall victory in the conflict, “constantly taking more advantageous positions and expanding territories under its control in all directions.”
Russia To Retire World’s Only Nuclear-Powered, Largest Battle-Cruiser Pyotr Veliky
The Russian Navy will not modernize the massive Pyotr Veliky battle-cruiser, the world’s only nuclear-powered surface vessel, and the largest non-aircraft carrier naval warship.
The one-of-kind warship that packs phenomenal firepower was supposed to be refitted and modernized after another ship in its class, Admiral Nakhimov, concluded her modernization. Pyotr Veliky will head for decommissioning following that.
According to reports, the anticipated refurbishment has been canceled owing to concerns over the massive costs and technical challenges involved in the vessels’ operations and maintenance.
Moreover, the ships are also not in harmony with newer concepts being considered in the Russian Navy, which favor mid-sized, heavily armed missile boats, corvettes, and frigates, which have a mix of land-attack, surface-ship strike, anti-air, and submarine hunting capabilities. …………………………………………………………………………… https://www.eurasiantimes.com/russia-to-retire-worlds-only-nuclear-powered-largest-battle-cruiser-pyotr-veliky-sister-ship-to-serve-in-arctic/
China’s Low-Cost Nuclear Offer Faces Scrutiny in Kazakhstan
By Eurasianet – Dec 27, 2023,
- The Chinese proposal offers a nuclear plant at half the price of French, Russian, and South Korean alternatives.
- Concerns arise over the Chinese design using outdated technology, despite compatibility with Kazakh-produced fuel assemblies.
- The projected cost for a two-unit nuclear power plant is over $12 billion, with an output of 2.4 GW of power.
A Kazakh media outlet, citing a watchdog group representative, is reporting that the Kazakh government is balking at a Chinese proposal to build the Central Asian nation’s first nuclear power plant. The Kazakh government has not officially commented on the report. ………….. https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Chinas-Low-Cost-Nuclear-Offer-Faces-Scrutiny-in-Kazakhstan.html
Ukraine losing 800 troops a day – ex-NATO officer
https://www.rt.com/news/589421-ukraine-losses-attrition-morale/ 22 Dec 23
Kiev’s manpower is “significantly worn out” as Russia’s “strategy of attrition” is taking effect, a former German Air Force Colonel has said.
Around 800 Ukrainian troops are being killed and wounded daily amid the conflict with Russia, retired German Air Force Colonel and prominent military analyst Ralph D. Thiele has claimed.
In an opinion piece for Focus magazine on Wednesday, Thiele, who used to serve in the personal staff of NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, claimed that Kiev needs to recruit more than 20,000 soldiers every month in order to replace its dead and injured. He did not reveal his sources or basis for his calculations, however.
Ukraine also requires additional personnel to be able to rotate its troops on the frontline, so that “exhausted soldiers” may recover and units may replenish their material supplies, he wrote.
According to Thiele, who now heads the Political-Military Society, EuroDefense (Germany) and StratByrd Consulting think tanks, “the highly motivated defense” and subsequent counteroffensive, which he described as “a thing of the past,” came at a “high price” for Ukraine.
Kiev’s manpower and hardware are “significantly worn out,” he said. “Western weapons systems are not miracle weapons and are wearing out,” the analyst added.
The worsening battlefield situation and decreasing Western support for Kiev are “eating away at the morale” of the Ukrainian troops, who “will have to save ammunition in a war of attrition and endure slaughter at the front without rest and without a greater sense of achievement,” Thiele stressed.
Russia has also lost “a large number of soldiers and huge amounts of material” during the conflict, but “it has much more of both than Ukraine,” he argued.
“Step by step, Russia’s superiority in the conflict with Ukraine is becoming more visible,” the analyst acknowledged. Moscow’s “strategy of attrition” is “taking effect” in terms of personnel, material, ammunition and morale, he said.
Thiele’s number of 800 Ukrainian soldiers being lost per day appears to be higher than the one announced by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu at the expanded meeting of the Defense Ministry’s Board on Tuesday. According to Shoigu, some 400,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed or wounded since the start of the fighting in late February 2022. This means that, according to Russian figures, Kiev’s daily losses stand at around 600 servicemen.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who chaired the meeting, stressed that “we can say with confidence that our troops have the initiative” on the frontline with Ukraine. “In essence, we are doing what we consider necessary, what we want. Wherever… commanders decide active defense is best, it takes place. And where it is needed, we improve our positions,” Putin explained.
1 This Month
4 May -West Suburban Peace Coalition to discuss Iran war at May Educational Forum
Monday, May 4, 7:00 – 8:00 PM Central Standard Time
Title: : How Trump’s Narrative Tries to Shape the Reality of the War on Iran.
Contact Walt Zlotow, zlotow@hotmail.com 630 442 3045 for further information
14 May – online event From Bombs to Data Centres: the Face of Nuclear Colonialism
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity – go to https://nuclearinformation.wordpress.com
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