Latest news with #LieutenantColonel
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Kiev's forces face catastrophe in Donbass – ex-Ukrainian commander
The situation in southwestern Donbass is rapidly deteriorating for Ukrainian troops now facing two major encirclements, former chief of staff of the Azov Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Bogdan Krotevich, has claimed. The frontline between Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk), the largest city under Ukrainian control in the southwest of Russia's Donetsk People's Republic, and Konstantinovka, a major stronghold some 45km to the northeast of the city, has effectively ceased to exist, Krotevich claimed. 'I honestly don't know what exactly you are being told, but I can tell you: the Pokrovsk-Konstantinovka line is, without exaggeration, a complete f**k up. And this f**k up has been growing for a long time, getting messier every day,' he wrote in an open letter to Vladimir Zelensky which he posted on X late on Monday. The city of Pokrovsk has been de-facto surrounded by Russian troops, while Konstantinovka is facing semi-encirclement, he claimed. The former Azov commander shared a map purporting to show the situation in the area, which corroborates media reports of a major Russian breakthrough to the north of Pokrovsk that emerged earlier in the day. 'The systemic problem began with the thinning out of reserves, widespread fragmentation of units along the entire front line, reports about a 'taken village' touted as a victory despite failures in entire operational directions,' Krotevich wrote, accusing 'parts' of the military leadership of a 'complete lack of a strategic and even operational vision of the theater of operations.' A similar alarmist message was produced by Taras Chmut, the head of the pro-military charity Come Back Alive. The crisis in Donbass has been brewing for about a year and a half, he wrote on X earlier in the day, predicting the Ukrainian military was about to begin losing land 'by tens, hundreds of square kilometers' daily. 'First, we failed at the platoon level. Then the company. Then it's the turn of the battalion level. When it comes to brigades, the enemy will put into action its armored groups, which have been actively accumulating for a year, and will go to the rear, to the operational space,' he claimed.
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Kiev's forces face catastrophe in Donbass - Ukrainian ex-commander
The situation in southwestern Donbass is rapidly deteriorating for the Ukrainian troops that are now facing two major encirclements, former chief of staff of the neo-Nazi Azov brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Bogdan Krotevich, has claimed. The frontline between Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk), the largest city under Ukrainian control in the southwest of Russia's Donetsk People's Republic, and Konstantinovka, a major stronghold some 45km to the northeast of the city, has effectively ceased to exist, Krotevich claimed. 'I honestly don't know what exactly you are being told, but I can tell you: the Pokrovsk-Konstantinovka line is, without exaggeration, a complete f**k up. And this f**k up has been growing for a long time, getting messier every day,' Krotevich wrote in an open letter to the Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky he posted to X late on Monday. The city of Pokrovsk has been de-facto surrounded by the Russian troops, while Konstantinovka is facing semi-encirclement, he claimed. The ex-Azov commander shared a map purporting to show the situation in the area, which corroborates media reports of a major Russian breakthrough to the north of Pokrovsk that emerged earlier in the day. 'The systemic problem began with the thinning out of reserves, widespread fragmentation of units along the entire front line, reports about a 'taken village' touted as a victory despite failures in entire operational directions,' Krotevich wrote, accusing 'parts' of military leadership of a 'complete lack of a strategic and even operational vision of the theater of operations.' A similar alarmist message was produced by Taras Chmut, the head of the Come Back Alive pro-military charity. The crisis in Donbass has been brewing for about a year and a half, he wrote on X earlier in the day, predicting the Ukrainian military was about to begin losing land 'by tens, hundreds of square kilometers' daily. 'First, we failed at the platoon level. Then the company. Then it's the turn of the battalion level. When it comes to brigades, the enemy will put into action its armored groups, which have been actively accumulating for a year, and will go to the rear, to the operational space,' he claimed.
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
The South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) General Court Martial in Western Bahr el Ghazal concludes
A General Court Martial, supported by the South Sudan People's Defense Forces, concluded in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal, on 5 July. It was preceded by two investigation missions to Wau and Jur River counties where 34 pending cases were reviewed. Subsequently, the military court adjudicated 20 criminal cases, convicting nine members of the SSPDF, stripping them of their ranks and dismissing them from military service. Notably, the General Court Martial delivered verdicts on two cases related to sexual and gender-based violence, resulting in convictions of seven and 10 years, respectively. Additionally, a conflict related sexual violence case involving multiple assailants and an underage victim was adjudicated, a first of its kind for such military court martials in South Sudan. The highest-ranking member of the SSPDF convicted was a Lieutenant Colonel, for the loss of a weapon. Two civilians in detention were released from military custody since they do not fall within the jurisdiction of a military court, while another civilian on trial for killing two SSPDF soldiers was sentenced to two years imprisonment and ordered to pay 62 heads of cattle or a monetary equivalent as blood compensation to the victims' families. The Court also heard six cases involving conflict related crimes committed during clashes in February 2025 in Kwajiena village, Jur River county. A lack of identification of assailants by victims, despite strong testimonies, did not lead to prosecutorial action in this regard. However, the hearing resulted in a directive to the state government to award financial compensation to all victims in accordance with South Sudan's civil procedure code. The General Court Martial team included two female judge-advocates to ensure that both female and male victims and witnesses were supported during the process. All victims also had access to two civilian victims' counsel, who provided free legal advice and actively participated in the proceedings to protect victim rights and help them navigate the justice process. This military court was followed by a civil-military dialogue in Wau with a focus on joint efforts to combat sexual violence. The aim was to strengthen trust between uniformed personnel and communities, as well as obtain real time feedback on the impact of such military justice interventions on host populations. The Wau General Court Martial was funded by the generous support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba. In particular, it builds on the work of similar military proceedings that took place in Wau in 2022, which resulted in convictions of eight members of the SSPDF for murder. The convicted soldiers were stripped of their ranks and dismissed from the SSPDF. As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen justice mechanisms and rule of law processes, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) also provided funding for victims and witnesses to receive psychosocial support before, during, and after trial. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Ukraine loses F-16 fighter jet and pilot in overnight Russian attacks
A Ukrainian pilot has been killed when his F-16 fighter jet was hit while defending against Russian attacks, the Ukrainian air force reported early on Sunday. The air force statement said that the pilot, a lieutenant colonel, did all he could to guide his stricken plane away from residential areas, but he failed to eject in time. The pilot, born in 1993, reportedly downed seven targets before being hit. "Unfortunately, we have suffered another painful loss," the air force statement said. According to the report, Russia launched more than 500 drones, missiles and cruise missiles at Ukrainian territory overnight, causing injuries and severe damage to civilian infrastructure. The loss of pilots trained in the West on US F-16 fighter jets is seen as highly significant for Ukraine. Losses from F-16 squadrons have been relatively rare to date. Ukraine has been warding off Russia's full-scale invasion since February 2022.
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
TALK OF THE TOWN: Look away now, ladies! Johnny the 'hot equerry' is hitched
He's the 'hot equerry' who stole thousands of hearts at King Charles 's Coronation, and now I can reveal that Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson has wed his glamorous fiancee, Olivia Lewis. The King's aide and former senior bodyguard to Queen Elizabeth II quietly married Ms Lewis last Saturday at the quaint St Mary's Church in Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire. I'm told the couple kept the ceremony 'elegant' and 'low-key', and it was followed by a lunch and reception at Olivia's parents' nearby house. They have avoided the spotlight, and Colonel Thompson stepped away from his public-facing role last year after reportedly disliking all the attention he was receiving. He first entered the limelight in 2022 for his role in royal public events following the late Queen's death, and was nicknamed the 'hot equerry' after videos of him went viral online. But the hopes of many young women were swiftly dashed when they learned that the hunky colonel was a married man – to a marketing manager called Caroline, whom he wed in 2010. Then, almost as soon as it became known that he had quietly separated from his first wife, it was revealed that he had found love again, with PR executive Olivia. They announced their engagement in 2024. Colonel Thompson has regularly accompanied King Charles and joined the Royal Family on Christmas Day last year. I understand the King was invited to the wedding and had no engagements to fulfil last weekend, according to the Court Circular. Intriguingly, the King and Queen were in Canada last week – with none other than the newly married colonel. Could His Majesty have attended the wedding in secret and then travelled to Canada with Thompson in tow? Pippa's plan put out to pasture Tough times at Bucklebury Farm. I hear the 72-acre Berkshire estate owned by The Princess of Wales's sister Pippa Matthews and her hedge-fund manager husband James is £807,543 in debt. The couple submitted plans to build a nursery on the farm, which features a petting zoo beloved by Prince George, to save it from financial ruin, but the idea was slammed by the local authority. The farm has faced yearly six-figure losses since James bought it for £1.3 million in 2021. Time to sell up? The spy who loved... Meg? They've been condemned as outdated sexist stereotypes... but that doesn't stop actress Meg Bellamy from wanting to be a Bond girl. 'Oh God, sure, I will take that!' said the 22-year-old, who is best known for playing a young Kate Middleton in The Crown. Failing that, she also fancies a role in a Tom Cruise film. 'I loved Mission: Impossible,' she swooned when I ran into her at DJ Pete Tong's gig at London's Royal Albert Hall. Tigerlily's had her claws clipped Tigerlily Taylor, daughter of Queen drummer Roger Taylor, had some damage control to do last week after a promotional post for her nail brand Claws By Tiger Taylor backfired. The 30-year-old shared a video online showing French First Lady Brigitte Macron appearing to slap her husband – an AI version of the real event. In Tigerlily's film, Brigitte's hands are sporting her brand's signature red press-on nails. 'Not in the best taste,' sniffed one follower. 'Not very ethical,' wrote another. Tigerlily, right, initially responded in the comments, then the post vanished. Talk about clawing it back from the brink... David Hockney is to the art world what Mick Jagger is to rock music – a legend who gets away with breaking the rules. I'm told the National Gallery will open after hours for the painter – 'even if it's Sunday 8pm,' an insider at a private view told me last week. And if Hockney, 87, a committed smoker, wants to puff inside, staffers will turn a blind eye – but not on this occasion. 'He chose to smoke outside before coming in,' the insider said. Prince Harry's ex Cressida Bonas and her husband, Harry Wentworth-Stanley announced in January they are expecting a second child – and now I hear they've bought a palatial house for their growing family. After selling their Notting Hill flat, the couple have splashed out on a five-bedroom home for £1.75 million. Cressida, 37, right, and Harry, 36, are technically staying in West London... however in the rather less aristocratic neighbourhood of Acton. SPOTTED ◆ My spies saw Paul Mescal and Gracie Abrams drinking at a trendy bar 'with no name' in Islington and dining at Towpath in De Beauvoir Crescent. ◆ Liz Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus returning from Rome on BA and not holding back on PDA. Love is in the air! ◆ Dua Lipa and her fiance frolicking on Hampstead Heath and feeding their sandwich to a stranger's dog. ◆ Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Gina Coladangelo browsing at a car boot sale in Chiswick. ◆ The Gentlemen cast, Theo James and Vinnie Jones, filming Guy Ritchie's TV show outside Conde Nast HQ. ◆ Outnumbered stars Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner out in Muswell Hill.
