Month: July 2023

Hello and welcome back to another edition of The Rimfire Report! This ongoing series is all about the rimfire firearm world and its many different types of guns, gear, shooting sports, ammunition, and history! When it comes to shooting .22LR ammunition, two popular options among AR-15 enthusiasts are dedicated .22LR AR-15 rifles and conversion kits. Each option has its merits but both have a very limited selection of options that cater to different needs and preferences and of course, have varying degrees of value depending on the situation you’re in. In this edition of The Rimfire Report, we will go over the advantages and disadvantages of both dedicated 22LR AR rifles and 22LR AR conversion kits, to help you make your decision based on your budget, shooting requirements, and overall firearm preferences.
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Full-Size Rifle, Pint Sized Cartridge
The Rimfire Report: Conversion or Dedicated 22LR AR?
Dedicated 22LR Rifles
Dedicated .22LR AR-15 rifles, purpose-built for the .22LR caliber, offer several unique advantages that cater specifically to those who value reliability and precision. These firearms are manufactured with components optimized for the .22LR round and often with barrels and components scaled down specifically to fit in a smaller package – often for youth purposes. There are a lot more dedicated AR-15 style 22LR options on the market with lots of variety including Smith & Wesson’s M&P 15-22, Tippmann M4-22, H&K’s 22LR 416-D, and the somewhat goofy-looking Rock Island Armory TM22.
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One of the primary benefits of dedicated .22LR AR-15 rifles is their inherent reliability. Since they are designed exclusively for the .22LR caliber, they tend to experience fewer issues with feeding, extraction, and ejection. This increased reliability can translate to more consistent shooting sessions and reduced frustration. Another significant advantage is the potential for improved accuracy. With dedicated barrels, chambers, and other components tailored to the .22LR round, these rifles can achieve impressive precision. For target shooting, plinking, or small game hunting, this enhanced accuracy can be a decisive factor.
The WEE-1 scaled down 22LR AR-15
Owning a dedicated .22LR AR-15 means having a separate firearm that complements your existing AR-15 configuration. This way, you can maintain your primary AR-15 setup for dedicated use and switch to the .22LR platform when desired without any additional conversion steps. However, this means more than just bringing an extra rifle, magazines, optics, and accessories to the range. One other notable downside is their cost. Due to their specialized construction, these rifles can be more expensive compared to conversion kits. The RIA TM22 being one of the least expensive options still comes in at about $100 or more than the newest 22LR conversion kits for AR-15s. If cost is a major factor for you, maybe consider picking up a conversion kit first before deciding if you want to make the commitment to buy a dedicated 22LR AR-15-style rifle or pistol.
Conversion Kits
The Rimfire Report: Conversion or Dedicated 22LR AR?
Conversion kits offer a cost-effective and convenient way to shoot .22LR ammunition with your existing AR-15 lower receiver and upper without having to purchase an additional firearm. These kits convert your standard AR-15 platform into a .22LR shooter by replacing the bolt carrier group and using dedicated .22LR magazines. The primary appeal of conversion kits is their affordability. The CMMG Conversion Kit is usually available for under $200 and comes with 3 magazines  – all you need to do is replace these items in your standard AR-15 and you’re ready to shoot.
The Rimfire Report: Conversion or Dedicated 22LR AR?
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Aside from the obvious benefit of being quite affordable, 22LR conversion kits for AR-15 rifles also offer you better adaptability at the range without the need for an entire extra gun and also allow you to train much more affordably using the same stock, grip, and optic that are already on your AR-15. For that matter, you can drop one of these conversion kits into virtually any AR-15 regardless of its barrel length and these conversion kits should work just fine – especially if you’ve managed to get one dialed in and working almost perfectly – I know fellow writer Nick C has had encounters with some really weird specifies that work almost perfectly.
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Nonetheless, conversion kits do have their downsides. While many work effectively, they may not match the reliability and accuracy of dedicated .22LR AR-15 rifles due to adapting existing components. While the CMMG Bravo 22LR Conversion Kit is undoubtedly the most popular option on the market, I’ve heard more than a few choke at the range.  Additionally, some conversion kits might require more frequent cleaning as .22LR ammunition tends to be dirtier than centerfire rounds which I’m sure any rimfire junkie worth their salt has learned by now – beware of running thousands and thousands of rounds through your AR-15 without cleaning.
The Rimfire Report: Conversion or Dedicated 22LR AR?
Adding It All Up – Final Considerations
Over the years, I’ve slowly converted (pun intended) to just using dedicated platforms. Conversion kits are still an awesome accessory to have around, but I find that the benefits of having a dedicated 22LR AR-15 rifle are not only worth the cost to me but also worth it in terms of the reduction of frustration when it comes to things just working. In addition to reliability, I don’t really use my AR-15 for the same duties as my 22LR AR rifles which more often than not are geared strictly towards competition in steel challenges (or action 22LR matches) rather than long-range shooting. However, 22LR conversions can still run nearly as well as the dedicated rifles, and they also don’t have the downside of taking up an entire set of accessories and optics that could be used on another rifle or put towards a single rifle that you may already own.

I’d obviously like to hear your thoughts on these two 22LR options. Which do you prefer? Are you of the mind that the more affordable conversion kit is the way to go for shooting on a budget or should people go through the extra effort and cost of purchasing a dedicated 22LR AR-15 rifle? Hopefully, soon we’ll have access to the newish ATI Schemisser 22LR Glock conversion kit so we can put that thing to the test! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments and thanks as always for stopping by to read The Rimfire Report! We’ll see you all next week!
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Before the 3M Open in Minnesota, Lee Hodges was jockeying for position within the top 70 of the FedEx Cup Playoff standings.
He had never won a PGA Tour event, had only finished in the top ten twice this season, and ranked 74th in the standings, on the outside looking in.
But that all changed with his landslide victory, as Hodges’ dominating win at TPC Twin Cities vaulted him up to 33rd in the FedEx Cup rankings.
Now the PGA Tour shifts to Greensboro, North Carolina for the Wyndham Championship, the final tournament of the regular season.
Plenty of players reside on the FedEx Cup bubble, hoping to take a play out of Hodges’ playbook by winning the tournament and cementing themselves in the playoffs.

BLAINE, Minn. — Lee Hodges celebrates with the trophy after winning the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 30, 2023.

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

So with the last week of the PGA Tour regular season now upon us, let us take a look at the FedEx Cup Playoff bubble to see who desperately needs a good performance in Greensboro:
Last Five In: Players Ranked 66th to 70th
66. Vincent Norrman – Sweden (631 FedEx Cup Points)
Norrman recently won the Barbasol Championship, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned event played concurrently as the Genesis Scottish Open.
The tour awarded Norrman 300 points for his victory in California, which helped the Swede rise 51 spots—from 111th to 60th—in the FedEx Cup standings.
He then tied for 25th at the Barracuda Championship—held the same week as The Open Championship—and most recently finished in a tie for 50th at the 3M Open.
Another made cut at the Wyndham Championship should get Norrman on the right side of the bubble and into the field at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first playoff event.
67. J.J. Spaun – United States (619)
J.J. Spaun most recently tied for 37th at the 3M Open, thus earning 17 FedEx Cup points. That leaves him three spots above the cut line heading into the Wyndham Championship.
The former San Diego State Aztec has made 18 of 25 cuts this season and has finished in the top-ten three times.
Spaun will need to make the cut in Greensboro to make the playoffs. Should he miss the cut as he did at the Travelers Championship, he likely does not make it to Memphis.
68. Ben Griffin – United States (617)
Ben Griffin tied for 20th at the 3M Open, keeping his playoff hopes alive as he received almost 40 FedEx Cup points in Minnesota.
The week before, when he made his Open Championship debut, Griffin missed the cut by a shot as his opening round 75 ultimately did him in at Royal Liverpool.
Yet, a missed cut at the Wyndham would likely end Griffin’s season early.
69. Cam Davis – Australia (605)
The Sydney, Australia native tied for 10th at the 3M Open, which awarded him with 70 FedEx Cup points.
Before his top-ten finish in Minnesota, Davis had missed the cut in four of his previous six events.
Another missed cut in Greensboro would end his season.

BLAINE, Minn. — Cameron Davis lines up his putt on the 18th green during the third round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 29, 2023.

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

70. Austin Eckroat – United States (594)
The 24-year-old tied for 10th at the U.S. Open, which sent him inside the Top 70 of the FedEx Cup standings for the first time all year.
But after two missed cuts at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and 3M Open and a tie for 65th at the Genesis Scottish Open, Eckroad needs a solid performance this week to avoid missing the playoffs.
The former Oklahoma State Cowboy tied for 37th at the Wyndham Championship two years ago but did not play last year.

ATLANTA — PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan shakes hands with Rory McIlroy on the 18th green after the final round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club on August 28, 2022.

Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

Needs Help: Players Ranked 71st to 75th
71: Ben Taylor – England (592 FedEx Cup Points)
You can queue up Tom Petty’s famous song “Free Fallin’” when discussing Ben Taylor’s season.
After tying for fourth at the Sony Open in Hawaii in mid-January, Taylor ranked 22nd in the FedEx Cup standings.
But since then, Taylor has missed 10 cuts while finishing in the top 10 just two times: at the Honda Classic and the Mexico Open.
Hence his free fall.
He most recently finished in solo 71st at the 3M Open.
The week before, at the Genesis Scottish Open, he finished in a tie for 73rd. At least he is not missing the cut.
Maybe he finds something at the Wyndham Championship this week. If he does, it would do wonders for his playoff chances.
72. Garrick Higgo – South Africa (586)
The 24-year-old South African is trending in the right direction.
After missing the cut at the Travelers Championship, Garrick Higgo sat in 85th in the FedEx Cup standings.
But in his last four starts, Higgo finished in a tie for 33rd, 21st, 19th, and 13th.
He has not recorded a top-ten finish since last October at the Sanderson Farms Championship, where he came in solo third. Still, another strong outing from Higgo at the Wyndham Championship could get him to Memphis.
73. K.H. Lee – South Korea (567)
K.H. Lee missed the cut at the 3M Open, a tournament he desperately needed to play well in. His poor performance in Minnesota earned him zero FedEx Cup points, as he is now on the outside looking in.
As Playing Through noted last week, Lee has not had his best stuff for a while now.
He has missed the cut in six of his last seven events, with the outlier being the Genesis Scottish Open, where he finished in solo 72nd.
Lee needs to discover some magic and play well in Greensboro, or else his season is finished.
74. David Lingmerth – Sweden (561)
David Lingmerth, who won his only PGA Tour event at The Memorial Tournament in 2015, came out of nowhere to tie for third at the Scottish Open three weeks ago, thus vaulting him up to 71st from 95th in the FedEx Cup standings.
He then made the cut on the number at The Open but had a poor final round, shooting a 7-over 78 through the rain to tie for 68th.
He earned just four FedEx Cup points at Royal Liverpool, as he remains on the outside looking in.
Lingmerth skipped the 3M Open, opting to rest and recuperate ahead of the Wyndham Championship. A top-40 finish there will likely get Lingmerth on the right side of the bubble.

HOYLAKE, England — David Lingmerth tees off on the 1st hole on Day Two of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 21, 2023.

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

75. Davis Thompson – United States (559)
Thompson finished solo second at The American Express in January, which earned him 300 FedEx Cup points.
He still relies on that finish, as he barely remains in the discussion heading into Greensboro.
He needs a solid performance to have any shot at the playoffs.
Other Notables Outside Top 70:
76. Shane Lowry – Ireland (556)
The 2019 Champion Golfer of the Year missed the cut at Royal Liverpool. That was a surprise considering he has been trending in the right direction since the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, where he tied for 12th.
His poor play at The Open could be summed up by one instance: when he snapped his club around his neck towards the end of the second round.
The week before last, at the Scottish Open, Lowry tied for 12th—his first start since the Travelers Championship.
But after playing back-to-back weeks, Lowry skipped the 3M Open, a head-scratching decision considering his spot on the bubble.
Per Brentley Romine of the Golf Channel, Lowry must finish no worse than 23rd at the Wyndham Championship to secure a spot in Memphis.

HOYLAKE, England — Shane Lowry tees off on the 16th hole during Day Two of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 21, 2023.

Photo by Stuart Franklin/R&A/R&A via Getty Images

79. Justin Thomas – United States (546)
Justin Thomas cannot get out of his current slump, as he missed another cut at the 3M Open last week.
He embarrassingly missed the cut at both The Open and the U.S. Open, as he did not look like a two-time major champion during the season’s final two majors.
Looking ahead, Thomas must finish solo 18th or better to make the playoffs, according to Romine.
Although Thomas has missed five cuts dating back to the PGA Championship in May, he did tie for ninth at the Travelers Championship in late June.
A similar performance in Greensboro to the one he had in Connecticut would put him on the right side of the bubble and help quiet his Ryder Cup skeptics.

BLAINE, Minn. — Justin Thomas during the second round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 28, 2023.

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

81. Adam Scott – Australia (517)
Adam Scott has actually had a solid season. But, he has only played in 14 PGA Tour events this season, leaving him outside of the Top 70.
Since the PGA Championship in May, where Scott tied for 29th, the Aussie has played in just five events. The highlight came at The Memorial Tournament, where he tied for ninth.
Scott missed the cut at the U.S. Open and the Genesis Scottish Open but most recently tied for 33rd at The Open.
He also tied for 19th at the Travelers Championship.
Alas, the 2013 Masters Champion must finish in the top 10 at the Wyndham Championship to make the playoffs. With how little he played this season, it honestly might not be of grave concern though.

HOYLAKE, England — Adam Scott makes their way from the 17th green during Day Three of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 22, 2023.

Photo by Stuart Kerr/R&A/R&A via Getty Images

99. Akshay Bhatia – United States (435)
Akshay Bhatia recently defeated Patrick Rodgers in a playoff to win the Barracuda Championship.
But a strange rule prevented Bhatia from getting the FedEx Cup points accompanying a win.
Since he is a special temporary member of the PGA Tour, the tour did not award Bhatia for his victory in California.
This odd circumstance angered many golf fans and Bhatia, who spoke about the matter on Sirius XM last week:
“My agent told me a couple of hours after the [Barracuda] trophy presentation,” Bhatia said. “I was really shocked because my caddie and I talked about going to play Barbasol and Barracuda, and with Special Temporary [status], you’re just trying to win within these next four events to get into the playoffs. That’s the whole goal.”
Bhatia is playing well, but he must win the Wyndham Championship to secure a spot in Memphis. Anything short of that will likely not do the trick.

TRUCKEE, Calif. — Akshay Bhatia poses with the trophy after winning after the final round of the Barracuda Championship at Tahoe Mountain Club on July 23, 2023.

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko for more golf coverage. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough too. […]

LPGA’s Carlota Ciganda was disqualified after the second round of the Evian Championship last Friday. The rules officials disqualified her for signing an incorrect scorecard resulting from slow play.
Following the incident, the two-time LPGA winner responded on her Instagram page, giving her side of the story.
“I got a few messages about the DQ from yesterday,” she said in an Instagram story. “I want to be very clear and the reason I did not sign a 7 on the last hole is because I don’t think I took 52 seconds like the Rules Official said. I had a 10 footer on the last hole, last putt and the group behind they were not even on the tee on a par 5.”
“Very poor performance from the LPGA rules official, they don’t understand what professional golf is about, they only look at their stopwatch like if 20 seconds is going to make a difference. I had family and friends watching and they all said it was impossible I took that long to hit that putt!”

She carded a 1-over 72 Friday but was supposed to add a two-stroke slow play penalty to that. An LPGA spokesperson said her group received a warning on No. 7 for being out of position, per Sports Illustrated. Ciganda and her group failed to make up the time and got timed on No. 8.
On the ninth hole, the spokesperson said Ciganda’s time warranted a two-stroke penalty. During scoring, she was able to appeal with the lead official but was ultimately denied.
Since she opted not to add the penalty, Ciganda was told she would be disqualified if she did not make the correction. She opted to walk out of the scoring tent.
While it’s rare for rules officials to give out stroke penalties, especially on the LPGA, the 33-year-old is no stranger to it.
Most recently, in 2021, at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play, she received a penalty on the final hole, causing her to lose that match.
The conditions were tough at the Evian Resort Golf Club on Friday. There were howling winds and tricky pin positions, but not everyone played slow.
“Yesterday was tough out there with windy conditions and difficult pins, and I wish everyone gets treated the same and they don’t pick on the same players all the time! That’s all,” Ciganda wrote. […]

Devon Archer, Hunter Biden’s longtime friend and business associate, appeared before the House Oversight Committee on Monday.
Archer is reportedly preparing to tell lawmakers that President Biden met with dozens of Hunter’s business associates while he was serving as vice president between 2009 and 2017.
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) issued a subpoena in June for Archer to appear for a deposition as part of the committee’s investigation into the Biden family’s finances.
Devon Archer worked with Hunter Biden at Burisma and also at the Rosemont Seneca Partners investment firm.

Over the weekend, on Saturday, the Biden Department of Justice attempted to intimidate Devon Archer and prevent him from testifying today. The Biden DOJ sent out a letter ON SATURDAY to Archer requesting he report to prison.
GOP House members called on lawmakers to return to Washington and investigate the DOJ following their harassment of a Congressional witness.
Obviously, the Biden Department of Justice is worried that the truth will come out to the American people today. The regime is worried that Archer will spill the beans on the Biden Crime Family, the most corrupt political family in US history.
Chad Pergram told FOX News viewers that Republicans are expected to disclose new bank statements at today’s hearing.
Chad Pergram: We are told there are new bank records to review today. They are from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. FOX also has text messages from Archer and Hunter Biden. Hunter tells Archer they will, quote, “Have the last laugh.” The committee says it will release a transcript of the interview in three or four days.
Republican Oversight members have told me Archer will be asked about then Vice President Biden being on phone calls and at dinners with Hunter’s foreign business partners. Former assistant U.S. Attorney […]

Credit: SABC News Twitter Screenshot
Apartheid was never truly abolished in South Africa, the races were just reversed. One could even argue it is worse today.
On Saturday, Julius Malema, the leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) party, led a huge crowd in chants of “Kill the Boer.” The term Boer is an Afrikaan and Durtch referring to white farmers.
As the Gateway Pundit has reported previously, white farmers are facing potential genocide thanks to “leaders” like Malema. His supporters say they are ready to kill or die for the white-owned land.
The video shows Malema dancing and and then he begins singing in Afrikaans before switching to English. He can be heard shouting the following words multiple times:
Shoot to kill. Kill the Boer! The farmer!
He concludes his sick rant by making gun noises. The bloodthirsty audience echoes his cries throughout.

WATCH:

South Africa’s black party sings “kill the Boer (Whites), kill the White farmer”. pic.twitter.com/JdPg9Okgnj
— Truthseeker (@Xx17965797N) July 30, 2023

The Democratic Alliance (DA), a centrist opposition party, announced that they will be filing a case in front of the United Nations (UN) against both the EFF and the African National Congress (ANC), which currently rules South Africa.
Here are the details from DA leader John Steenhuisen:
The first element of our UN case will focus on Malema’s repeated incitement of ethnic violence.
The second element will charge the ANC national government before the UN over its years-long failure to take action against their one-time protégé even as brutal farm murders continue to escalate in the wake of Malema’s demagoguery.

One could say they are either naive or desperate if they honestly think the UN will heed their complaints. In fact, many members of the corrupt, worthless organization probably agree with Malema.
This is is not the first Malema has called for the mass murder of whites. Jim Hoft reported that Malema previously admitted his desire to confiscate white-owned land and to cut “the throat of whiteness.”
He was also once arrested for playing “Kill the Boer” at one of his rallies about six years ago.
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Joe Biden got a new script over the weekend.
Biden sat down for an interview with the Jay Shetty Podcast that aired on Monday.
Joe Biden spoke about his so-called ‘speech impediment’ and some of his childhood memories.
He also boasted about his grandchildren.

All of a sudden Joe Biden has seven, not six grandkids.
Joe Biden finally acknowledged his granddaughter Navy Joan Roberts.
Biden released a carefully crafted statement (likely written by a lawyer) on the grandchild he disowned after major backlash.
This is a political move.
Joe Biden has purposely ignored this beautiful child for more than 4 years.
Joe and Jill Biden are monsters.
Hunter Biden has a 4-year-old daughter, Navy Joan, with former DC stripper Lunden Roberts.
For years Joe Biden refused to acknowledge Hunter Biden’s lovechild with Roberts.
Navy Joan will turn 5 in August.
Navy Joan
All of a sudden Biden has 7 grandkids!
“I have seven grandkids, every day, I either text them or call them!” Biden said.
Right, so Joe Biden calls Navy Joan all the time.
WATCH:

Biden got a new script over the weekend:
“I have seven grandkids, every day, I either text them or call them!” pic.twitter.com/QuuS2m2dHN
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) July 31, 2023

Watch the full interview here:
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Mike Mattison was found shot to death 7/24 on his farm in Harrismith, South Africa

Five farm attacks took place in four days this week in South Africa as the country teeters on the edge of mass blackouts due to a gang war among corrupt ANC party cadres in South Africa’s state energy company Eskom.

Amazing pic.twitter.com/790AzMyMeX
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) July 24, 2023

On July 22 at 10:25 pm, during a scheduled blackout, four masked attackers invaded a home in Paarl, in the Western Cape, and overpowered the residents.  A neighbour alerted the Drakenstein Farm Watch (DFW) who arrived with K9 police. The attackers had already fled the scene with some valuables.
On July 22 at 5 pm, Mike Pattinson (67) was found shot to death in his farmhouse near Harrismith in the Free State. Pattinson’s Toyota, Urban Cruiser was found at a house in Tseseng, Qwaqwa.  After a gun battle with the fleeing suspects, police arrested seven suspects, two of whom were injured.

On July 22 at 08:30 am, farmer Kevin Taylor was tending to his livestock when approx. 5 armed attackers arrived at the farm house in the Mooi River area in KwaZulu-Natal. Taylor was assaulted by the attackers and forced to open the safe.  Six firearms, including a revolver, a shotgun and four rifles and an undisclosed amount of cash were robbed.
On 23 July, a woman was attacked and tortured with boiling water by five attackers on a farm in Dalton, in KwaZulu-Natal province.
On July 25 at 8 am, farmer Pietie Nel was overpowered by five armed attackers on a farm near Wadela in Gauteng province.  Two shotguns, a pistol and a pellet gun were robbed.
Civil rights organization AfriForum published an online security checklist for farmers to help prevent farm attacks.
“Farmers have no choice but to ensure they secure themselves well by practicing contingency plans and taking other safety precautions. This document serves as a very handy guideline, which farmers can use to assess their security planning and ensure the necessary measures are in place,” says Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s spokesperson for Community Safety.

5000 police issued firearms stolen in the last 5 years. pic.twitter.com/kkyU5c1EXL
— Jacques Broodryk (@JacquesBroodryk) July 27, 2023 […]

Russian Lancet drones have proved a formidable danger to Ukrainian and Western armor

Over 20,800 Ukrainian soldiers have died in the second month in the failing Ukrainian “counter-offensive“ with no air or artillery support, Russian Ministry of Defence Sergei Shoigu claimed. Shoigu previously put Ukrainian losses from the first month of the “counter-offensive“ at 26,000, as Gateway reported, putting the total Ukrainian dead since June 4 at 46.800. 1435 hapless Ukrainian young men died this weekend alone, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence.
“Over the past month, Ukrainian losses were up to twenty thousand eight hundred servicemen,” Shoigu claimed, speaking to the leadership of Russian Armed Forces: “20824 men and 2227 units of various weapons, to be precise, including 10 Leopard tanks, 11 U.S.-manufactured Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 40 U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery systems and 50 self-propelled artillery systems from the U.K., the U.S., Germany, France and Poland.”
“For two days alone – 26 and 27 July – more than 400 Ukrainian servicemen, 31 tanks, including three German-manufactured Leopard and two French-manufactured tanks, as well as 32 armoured fighting vehicles were destroyed near Rabotino,” Shoigu claimed. “A total of 63 armoured vehicles were destroyed”.
“The command of the AFU (Armed Forces of Ukraine) is desperately sending new troops into the assault on Russian positions”, Shoigu asserted, which was thwarted by the “competently constructed defences” of the Russian forces, he claimed. “A large-scale attempt by Ukrainian troops to break through Russian defences was thwarted in Orekhov direction.”

The Russian Ministry of Defence further claimed that 725 Ukrainian soldiers were killed on July 30 and 710 on July 31 in fighting on the South Donetsk, Zaporozhye, Krasny Liman, Kherson and Kupyansk fronts, putting the weekend death toll at 1435.
A video from Russian Ria Novosti TV claimed to show a single Russian tank in the Zaporozhye region stopping a column of 10 Ukrainian vehicles. 7 of the vehicles were destroyed by the Tank firing from the cover of a hedgerow, the rest were eliminated by artillery and Lancet drones, RT claimed. The video has not been independently verified.
According to the Russian state-controlled Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper, the Ukrainian column included at least two tanks and five US-made MRAP M1224 MaxxPro vehicles. The Russian tank crew reportedly forced the Ukrainian group to enter a minefield, where some of their equipment was destroyed.
Russia and Ukraine allegedly reached a peace deal as early as March 2022, which was then torpedoed by the UK and US governments.
CORRECTION: Due to a typo, the headline originally read “28,000 Ukrainians Dead”. This has been corrected. […]