Prologue Journal – Page 39205 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Ukraine’s Armed Forces advancing near Bakhmut for 3 days, Russians in stupor – Ground Forces Commander

Pravda Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, visited the troops near Bakhmut and thanked them for their counteroffensive actions during the last three days, completely disorienting the Russians. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/16/7402409/

CIA Seeks to Recruit War-Weary, High-Ranking Russians With Video Appeal

Moscow Times “Maybe people around you don’t want to hear the truth. We do,” the CIA’s message reads. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/05/16/cia-seeks-to-recruit-war-weary-high-ranking-russians-with-video-appeal-a81151

Night attack on Ukraine cost Russia at least US$120 million

Pravda Ukraine On the night of 15-16 May, Russia spent at least US$119.08 million on another large-scale attack on Ukraine. Source: calculations by Ekonomichna Pravda, citing information by the Air Force of Ukraine Details: At night, the Russians fired at Ukraine: six Kinzhal aerial ballistic missiles; nine Kalibr cruise missiles; three ballistic/anti-aircraft missiles (type to…

Eyewitnesses report powerful explosions in Kiev last night

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. According to them, “a shockwave was felt in the downtown area” https://tass.com/world/1617997

Poland proposes changing NATO security procedures after rocket incident — radio report

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. Polish President Andrzej Duda and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also discussed plans for expanding the NATO Response Force, which Warsaw would like to see take on a more specific task-oriented role https://tass.com/world/1617993

South Korea Wants More Babies, Just Not in These Places

New York Times Hundreds of restaurants, museums, cafes and other public establishments in the country ban children from entering. One lawmaker is pushing to get rid of the policy. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/world/asia/korea-no-kids-zones.html

Telecom Italia Hit as CDP Reportedly Pulls Bid

Wall Street Journal Telecom Italia shares fell after Bloomberg reported that Italian state lender CDP planned to pull out of the bidding process for the teleco’s fixed-network assets. https://www.wsj.com/articles/telecom-italia-shares-fall-after-report-of-netco-bidder-pulling-out-8668ca1c

China’s Youth Unemployment Tops 20% Amid Signs of Stalling Recovery

Wall Street Journal China’s youth unemployment rate rose above 20% for the first time since Beijing began tracking the data five years ago. https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-youth-unemployment-tops-20-amid-signs-of-stalling-recovery-cea320ef

Russian tech firm testing Marker robot with missile armament

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. “Work is underway to fine-tune the technologies of using various solutions, such as the payloads involving small arms, grenade launchers and also such missile armament as Kornet weapons to fight enemy forces,” the executive director said https://tass.com/defense/1617991

FSB recruits ISIL fighters to send them as “agents” to Ukraine

Pravda Ukraine The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) is recruiting former militants of the terrorist Islamic State (ISIL) and trying to introduce them as its “agents” into Ukrainian battalions. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/16/7402407/