Russian Gains, US Gears Up for Crimea Escalation, US Proxies Strike China/Pakistan in Train Bombing

Update on Russian-Ukrainian conflict for January 23, 2023 + Pakistan train bombing as part of US proxy war on China.

- Russian forces are reportedly advancing in Zaporozhye while Ukraine continues losing ground around Bakhmut;

- Russian pushes in Zaporozhye could be (1) recon in force, (2) extending existing security zone ahead of actual Russian front line or (3) spoiling attacks on forces assembling for a future offensive;

- Ukrainian losses are severe and Reuters is reporting on supposed warnings by the US to Ukraine about going on the offensive;

- Weapon shipments have been announced for Ukraine including a significant US DoD package, as well as all of Denmark’s Caesar self-propelled howitzers and all of Estonia’s FH-70 towed howitzers;

- A recent bombing targeting a train in southwest Pakistan is part of a long-term proxy conflict waged by Washington against China and its Belt and Road partners;

- The US has promoted separatism in Pakistan’s southwest region of Baluchistan for years specifically to block Chinese-Pakistani cooperation and development;

References:

Russian-Ukrainian Conflict

New York Times - U.S. Warms to Helping Ukraine Target Crimea:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/18/us/politics/ukraine-crimea-military.html
Lt General Mark Hertling (retired), Twitter - M1 Abrams Ukraine thread:
https://twitter.com/MarkHertling/status/1616792744135098370
Modern War Institute at West Point - Mark Hertling biography:
https://mwi.usma.edu/mark-hertling/
US Department of Defense - Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and General Mark A. Milley Press Conference Following Ukraine Defense Contact Group Meeting, Ramstein Air Base, Germany Jan. 20, 2023:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3273771/secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-and-general-mark-a-milley-press-confere/
BBC - Ukraine war: Germany won't block export of its Leopard 2 tanks, foreign minister says:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64370165
Reuters - U.S. officials advise Ukraine to wait on offensive, official says:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-officials-advise-ukraine-wait-offensive-official-says-2023-01-20/
Alexander Mercouris - Russia Advance Bakhmut Siversk Zaporozhye; US Tells Ukraine It is Losing Attrition War Leave Bakhmut:
https://youtu.be/JAyShGaNj-8
ABC News (Australia) - Almost 180,000 Russians dead or wounded in Ukraine, Norwegian general says:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-23/russia-180000-dead-wounded-soldiers-ukraine-conflict-norway/101883272
The Moscow Times - ‘Record’ 1,000 Russian Soldiers Confirmed Killed in Ukraine Since Jan. 1 – Analysis:
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/01/20/record-1000-russian-soldiers-confirmed-killed-in-ukraine-since-jan-1-analysis-a79994

Train Bombing in Pakistan Targeting China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Washington Post - Bombing derails passenger train in SW Pakistan, injures 15:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/bombing-derails-passenger-train-in-sw-pakistan-injures-15/2023/01/20/e045ee26-98c4-11ed-a173-61e055ec24ef_story.html
BBC - Pakistan hotel bomb: Deadly blast hits luxury venue in Quetta (April 2021):
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56834937
Pakistan bus blast kills 13, including 9 Chinese CPEC workers, China demands punishment as conflicting reports emerge (July 2021):
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-15/pakistan-bus-explosion-kills-9-chinese-nationals/100294434
National Interest - Free Baluchistan (2011):
https://nationalinterest.org/commentary/free-baluchistan-4799
GovTrack - H.Con.Res. 104 (112th): Expressing the sense of Congress that the people of Baluchistan, currently divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, have the right to self-determination and to their own sovereign country. (2012):
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hconres104
US National Endowment for Democracy - Pakistan 2018 (archived):
https://web.archive.org/web/20190728014313/https://www.ned.org/region/asia/pakistan-2018/

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