#] #] ********************* #] "$d_projMaj"'History/Ukraine-Russia/Howell - Ukraine and Russia notes.txt' www.BillHowell.ca 25Feb2022 initial To view this file - use a text editor (not word processor) constant width font (eg courrier 10), tab - 3 spaces 24************************24 # Table of Contents, see ToC file - not listed [here, screen] as it's too large! : # $ grep "^#]" "$d_projMaj"'History/Ukraine-Russia/Howell - Ukraine and Russia notes.txt' | sed 's/^#\]/ /' >"$d_projMaj"'History/Ukraine-Russia/Howell - Ukraine and Russia notes TblOfContents.txt' 24************************24 08********08 #] ??Apr2024 week ending 08********08 #] ??Apr2024 week ending 08********08 #] ??Apr2024 week ending 08********08 #] ??Apr2024 week ending 08********08 #] ??Apr2024 week ending 08********08 #] ??Apr2024 week ending 08********08 #] ??Apr2024 week ending 08********08 #] 27Apr2024 week ending +-----+ #] +-----+ #] +-----+ #] +-----+ #] +-----+ #] +-----+ #] +-----+ #] +-----+ #] +-----+ #] WATCH Russian kamikaze drone hit US-made Abrams tank 30Mar2024 RT https://www.rt.com/russia/595171-abrams-kamikaze-drone-strike/ A new video has surfaced online showing a Lancet-family loitering munition striking a Ukrainian M1 Abrams A Russian Lancet-family kamikaze drone has scored a hit on a US-supplied Ukrainian M1 Abrams tank, footage that emerged online on Saturday shows. The new video, which was said to have been taken near the village of Solovyovo in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic, shows the loitering munition hitting a stationary M1 Abrams tank. The drone hits the tank on the roof of its turret, apparently setting off its smoke grenade launchers, which begin to detonate uncontrollably and obscure the view. The extent of the damage to the tank was not immediately clear. Washington pledged 31 M1 Abrams tanks and several M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles – which are based on the same chassis – early last year ahead of the long heralded but ultimately disastrous Ukrainian counteroffensive. The batch arrived in full only by mid-October, by which time the counteroffensive was largely exhausted. +-----+ #] Moscow has destroyed 5 US-made Abrams in Ukraine, damaged 3 20Apr2024 RT NYT https://www.rt.com/news/596323-russian-drones-destroy-abrams-tanks/ $500 Russian drones destroying $10,000,000 American tanks – NYT Moscow’s forces have destroyed five US-made Abrams in Ukraine and damaged another three, the newspaper has claimed Expensive American M1 Abrams tanks delivered to Ukraine are increasingly falling prey to Russian drones that cost only a fraction as much, the New York Times reported on Saturday. Even “one of the most powerful symbols of American military might” is not invulnerable to the attacks, it said. At least five US-supplied tanks out of the 31 provided by Washington have already been destroyed by Russia, the media outlet said, adding that three others were “moderately damaged.” In most cases, the tanks have been destroyed by first-person-view (FPV) kamikaze drones, also known as loitering munitions. These drones are capable of maneuvering before hitting their targets. In at least one instance though, an Abrams tank was taken out in a duel against a Russian T-72B3 main battle tank. The Russian military has published upwards of a dozen clips, mostly taken from drones, showing the destruction of US-supplied equipment. According to the NYT, the tanks turned out to be “more easily taken out by exploding drones than some officials and experts had initially assumed.” The media outlet cited Austrian historian and military expert Colonel Markus Reisner, who described the situation as “unbelievable.” The paper also described the Russian UAVs as “highly-accurate, low-cost tank killers.” US-made Abrams tanks made their long-expected appearance on the front line in late February amid the Ukrainian effort to halt advancing Russian troops after the capture of the Donbass city of Avdeevka. A batch of 31 M1 Abrams tanks was pledged to Kiev early last year, ahead of the ultimately disastrous Ukrainian counteroffensive. The delivery was made in full by mid-October, when the ill-fated push had already largely been exhausted. +-----+ #] Airbus boss contradicts German leader on Ukraine missiles 20Apr2024 RT https://www.rt.com/news/596321-airbus-scholz-storm-shadow/ If Olaf Scholz wanted to send Taurus missiles to Kiev, he could find a “technological solution,” CEO Michael Schoellhorn has said Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and his officials have been asking Berlin for Taurus missiles for almost a year, but Scholz has thus far refused to consider the request. Speaking to the news agency dpa in February, the chancellor claimed that German military technicians would have to be deployed to Ukraine to operate the air-launched missiles, making them active participants in the conflict with Russia. Airbus Defense and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn believes that Scholz has no desire to give the missiles to Ukraine, and is using the need for German involvement as an excuse. “The chancellor has decided on the issue. His argument is political,” Schollhorn told Der Spiegel in an interview published on Saturday. “If there was the will to deliver, technological solutions would be found to use the Taurus in Ukraine without German participation,” he continued. “But I can understand the political arguments.” +-----+ #] WATCH German-made Leopard tank towed to Russian trophy display 21Apr2024 RT https://www.rt.com/russia/596342-leopard-tank-ukraine-captured/ German media previously reported that Moscow’s troops had captured one of the tanks near Avdeevka The Russian military has seized a German-produced Ukrainian Leopard tank and plans to display it at a trophy exhibition outside Moscow, according to a new video circulating on social media. A clip shared by the Solovyov Live Telegram channel on Sunday appears to show the evacuation of the tank from the combat area by Russian troops. The video, filmed in the rural area in an undisclosed location, appears to show it being towed down the road by another Russian heavy vehicle. The German-made armor appears relatively undamaged from the outside, but it is missing tracks from both sides. The Telegram channel's editors explained that Russian troops had to devise a means of evacuating the tank from the battlefield, noting that they had to blow off the tracks with explosives to get it moving. +-----+ #] Modi’s battleground: Why the south is tough terrain for the Indian leader 21Apr2024 RT https://www.rt.com/india/596303-modis-battleground-tamil-nadu/ As the nation of 1.4bn votes in the general election, the incumbent PM seeks to use his charisma to break through in Tamil Nadu Dravidian ideology is predicated on the old theory that lighter-skinned Aryans came and settled among the darker-skinned Dravidians, driving the latter to the Indian peninsula’s south. Hence, the ideology has been against Brahmin hegemony, for social justice, and for strengthening the local language against the imposition of Hindi. In the Lok Sabha elections of 2014 and 2019, the BJP allied with the other Dravidian party, the All India Anna DMK (AIADMK). This time, however, the BJP ditched the AIADMK for several smaller regional parties. Though Modi claims that his party will win big in southern India, the situation on the ground reflects a different reality. The BJP’s claims of growth and development have not made a mark in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu. In contrast are the welfare measures of the ruling DMK government. The Kalaignar Women Entitlement Scheme, named after former Chief Minister M. Karunanithi, provides 1,000 rupees ($12) to women in a certain economic category, free bus travel for women, and a morning meal scheme for children in all government schools. These policies have been well-received by the state’s 31.4 million female voters. The BJP holds an edge among young voters thanks to its strong social media presence, but senior journalists and analysts believe that popularity will not necessarily translate to votes. +--+ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dravidian_nationalism Dravidian Nationalism was thus based on three ideologies: dismantling of Brahmin hegemony; revitalization of the Dravidian Languages (that include Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil) and social reform by abolition of existing caste systems, religious practices and recasting women's equal position in society. +-----+ #] Musk decries lack of ‘exit strategy’ in Ukraine conflict 21Apr2024 RT https://www.rt.com/news/596339-musk-us-aid-ukraine/ The billionaire’s comments come in response to new funding for Kiev being approved by the House of Representatives David Sacks, Apr 20, 2024 @DavidSacks Based on some simple math, the new funding bill that’s being widely hailed as saving Ukraine will buy precisely half of a Summer Counteroffensive. In February, Musk said the US should stop aiding Ukraine altogether as there was “no way in hell” Russia would lose the war. “This spending doesn’t help Ukraine. Prolonging the war doesn’t help Ukraine,” he stated at a forum on X Spaces. Last month, Musk also warned that the “real question” in the conflict now lies in how much territory Kiev will lose before it agrees to sit down to peace talks with Moscow. Russia has repeatedly said that it was open to peace negotiations if Ukraine accepts the “reality on the ground.” Moscow also warned that Western aid and weapons shipments to Ukraine only exacerbate and prolong the conflict. +-----+ #] Ukraine's obsolete S-200 missile systems to hit Russian targets 20Apr2024 KI Denisova https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-obsolete-s-200-missile-systems-reportedly-back-on-track-to-hit-russian-targets/ Ukraine's obsolete S-200 missile systems reportedly back on track to hit Russian targets by Kateryna Denisova Rumors that Ukraine once again uses S-200 missiles began circulating in the summer of 2023. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that "converted" S-200 missiles had been shot down over Rostov, Kursk, and Kaluga oblasts, as well as occupied Crimea. Ukraine's military has not officially confirmed these claims while Kyiv is ramping up the production of domestically-made weapons, including long-range drones, which reportedly have already hit targets deep inside Russia. "In the current circumstances, we have to search for a way out. We have come up with these S-200s, and it seems to be working well so far," an unnamed government source told BBC News Ukraine in August 2023. It will not be possible to make new missiles based on the S-200 from scratch due to rather complicated technology, but it is possible to repair the previously produced ones to combat readiness, according to Kharuk. "I think we are not talking about modifying these missiles, but only about restoring their readiness. We can talk about modifying the ground equipment, introducing modern means of communication, and incorporating modern detection radars," he added. "If until now the crews of Russian strategic bombers felt completely unpunished, now they see that they can be reached. Let's hope this is the first such step." 240420 Russian Beriev A-50 AWACs spy plane: Denisova.png 08********08 #] 20Apr2024 week ending +-----+ #] Westen Shilaho: US - African military frontier against Russia and China 19Apr2024 https://www.rt.com/africa/596240-us-joint-military-exercise-africa/ An increasingly multipolar world means Washington’s influence over the continent will wane as alternative strategic partners emerge Usually between 2,000 and 2,500 short-term rotational US military and civilian personnel make up the Combined Joint Taskforce Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), which covers an expansive region that entails the land and airspace in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, and Sudan, as well as coastal waters of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean. With the challenges minimized, this partnership is glowingly portrayed: “Through collaborative training and shared experiences, the exercises foster a strong professional ethos and partner military forces, enhancing their ability to respond effectively to crises and contribute to lasting peace in East Africa.” In Niger, the decision to revoke military ties with the US was endorsed by trade unions. The inference is that the Nigerien civil society is in concurrence with the military establishment on the need to free Niger from condescending and exploitative partnerships. The mass support for military takeovers in the Sahel and West Africa was evidence of the backlash against puppet governments out of touch with the people. +-----+ #] Opinion, United States, China, Russia, NATO, Project Syndicate 19Apr2024 Ignatieff https://kyivindependent.com/opinion-the-threat-to-american-hegemony-is-real/ Michael Ignatieff is former Liberal Party leader in Canada The post-1945 world order – written into international law, ratified by the United Nations, and kept in place by the balance of nuclear terror among major powers – is hanging by a thread. The United States is divided against itself and stretched to the limits of its capabilities. Europe is waking up to the possibility that, come November, America may no longer fulfill its collective defense obligations under Article 5 of the NATO treaty. Faced with this new uncertainty, Europe is cranking up its defense production, and European politicians are screwing up the courage to persuade their electorates that they will need to ante up 2% of their GDP to guarantee their own safety. >> finally, free-loaders are putting on the table what they long promised to NATO? I doubt it +-----+ #] BREAKING: US passes $61 billion in aid to Ukraine 20Apr2024 KI Khalilova https://kyivindependent.com/breaking-u-s-house-passes-61-billion-ukraine-aid-bill/ The U.S. House of Representatives on April 20 passed a key foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies after months of political infighting and a deteriorating situation on the battlefield. Over two months have passed since the Senate passed a similar bill on foreign assistance, and Democratic and Republican lawmakers, along with U.S. President Joe Biden, have been calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the bill to the House for a vote. The aid package provides $60.84 billion to assist Ukraine, including $13.8 billion for Ukraine to buy advanced weapons, $13.4 billion for replenishing U.S. stockpiles, $11 billion to support U.S. allies in the region, and another $13.8 billion to purchase U.S. defense systems for Ukraine.   Another $9 billion will be allocated to the war-torn country as economic assistance in the form of loans that can be forgiven by the president with Congress's approval. According to CNN, 101 Republican House members voted in favor of the Ukraine aid bill, 112 voted against, and one voted present. Meanwhile, among Democrats, 210 House members voted yes, with none opposing the bill. +-----+ #] Air Force: Ukraine downs Russian Tu-22M3 bomber for first time 19Apr2024 KI Hodunova https://kyivindependent.com/air-force-ukraine-downs-russian-tu-22m3-bomber-for-first-time/ Ukrainian anti-aircraft units shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber for the first time, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said on April 19. The Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in Russia's Stavropol Krai on the morning of April 19, just after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. According to Stavropol Krai Governor Vladimir Vladimirov, the Russian plane crashed in the region's Krasnogvardeysky District. Vladimirov claimed two pilots ejected from the aircraft. One pilot was allegedly killed and another crew member is missing. +-----+ #] Russia pounds Ukraine's [cities, front lines], air defences dwindle 18Apr2024 KI Psaropoulos https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/18/russia-pounds-ukraines-cities-and-front-lines-as-air-defences-dwindle Russia destroys Ukrainian power stations and defences as an expert warns Kyiv’s troops are ‘utterly exhausted’. And Kuleba is not just guilting Europeans. At NATO’s 75th anniversary, he aimed a barb at the entire alliance. “I’m sorry to spoil the birthday party, but who can believe that the mightiest military alliance in the world cannot find seven batteries of Patriots to provide them to the only country in the world that is fighting ballistic attacks every day?” A Russian bombardment using 82 missiles and drones destroyed the Trypilska thermal power station in Kyiv on Thursday, April 11. It was only the second time in the war that an entire power plant was taken out, and the first in the capital, which is supposedly the most heavily defended from air attacks. “This is facilitated by warm, dry weather, which made most of the open areas of the terrain accessible to tanks,” said Syrskyii. “Despite significant losses, the enemy is increasing its efforts by using new units on armoured vehicles, thanks to which it periodically achieves tactical success.” >> great article!!! "$d_projMaj"'History/Ukraine-Russia/images/' : Psaropoulos, AlJazeer: who controls what in Ukraine 18Apr2024.png Psaropoulos, AlJazeer: who controls what in southern Ukraine 18Apr2024.png Psaropoulos, AlJazeer: who controls what in eastern Ukraine 18Apr2024.png Psaropoulos, AlJazeer: where are people fleeing to 18Apr2024.png 250418 where are Ukraininas fleeing to: Psaropoulos, AlJazeer.png +-----+ #] Apple removes popular messaging apps in China 19Apr2024 https://www.rt.com/business/596265-apple-china-whatsapp-telegram/ The tech giant claims it was ordered by Beijing to pull WhatsApp, Threads, Telegram, and Signal from the local AppStore +-----+ #] The US is crawling away from Ukraine 18Apr2024 RT Dmitry Trenin https://www.rt.com/russia/596216-dmitry-trenin-us-is-crawling/ Dmitry Trenin: The US is crawling away from Ukraine Talk about victory for Kiev has disappeared as Washington becomes a ‘back seat driver’ Dmitry Trenin, a research professor at the Higher School of Economics and a lead research fellow at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations. He is also a member of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). +-----+ #] Ukraine’s Bohdana howitzer - here’s what it can do 19Apr2024 KI Chris York https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-bohdana-howitzer-is-rolling-off-production-lines-heres-what-it-can-do/ Ukraine’s Bohdana howitzer is rolling off production lines – here’s what it can do President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a significant milestone in Ukraine’s push to increase domestic weapons production on April 18, saying that Kyiv was on track to produce 10 Bohdana howitzers this month. The Bohdana – or the 2S22 Bohdana to give it its full title – is a self-propelled howitzer, essentially an artillery gun on a truck chassis with a 42-kilometer firing range. These types of gun give armed forces a "shoot and scoot" ability, a valuable advantage over towed artillery pieces. From the moment a towed artillery piece is fired, it is vulnerable to detection by the enemy, and moving it can be a time-consuming process that requires a suitable vehicle. A self-propelled howitzer can drive into position, fire off multiple rounds in under a minute and be out of range of counter fire before the enemy has had time to organize. "From the point of view of hardware – that is the actual artillery part – it fully corresponds to modern Western howitzers with a 155/52 barrel,” Andrii Kharuk, a weapons expert, told the Kyiv Independent. After three years of design and development, the Bohdana made its first public appearance in 2018 when a prototype took part in the Kyiv Independence Day Parade on Aug. 24. "Its crucial features are high mobility, precision, range capability, as well as rapid firing speed," Oleksandr Turchynov, then-chairman of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said at the time. +-----+ #] Beijing-funded shipping canal will reduce regional reliance on Vietnam 18Apr2024 RT Fomenko https://www.rt.com/news/596140-china-vietnam-cambodia-canal/ China wants to literally dig its way around geopolitical challenges A Beijing-funded shipping canal will reduce regional reliance on Vietnam, a fellow communist state and traditional rival By Timur Fomenko, political analyst This is because Vietnamese nationalism views Beijing with a suspicion that is historically rooted, with a legacy of seeking to sustain its independence against the Chinese dynasties of old. As China has risen again, this sentiment in Hanoi has increased, especially with the Sino-Vietnamese war of 1978 and overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea, known to Vietnamese as the East Sea. Similarly, China is wary of the idea of Vietnam potentially aligning with a foreign power as part of a containment coalition against it, itself an instigator of conflict. Although the two countries are not currently in a state of hostility and have worked to improve bilateral relations amid these strong points of contention, this mutual suspicion persists, which leads to them continuing to hedge against one another subtly, even as they co-operate on some projects, in an unspoken competition. For example, one may note Vietnam recently forming parallel strategic partnerships with the US, Australia, and Japan, moves which were unthinkable decades ago. As part of the BRI, China first gave landlocked Laos a new lifeline by building the China-Laos Railway. Opened in 2021, this high-speed and commercial freight route, and accompanying expressway, connects the Laotian capital Vientiane with China, meaning the country no longer must rely on Vietnam to access ports. This has allowed Laos to not only export goods to China but also to become an intermediary between China and Thailand, with more railways to form a complete route between Beijing and Bangkok underway. The China-Laos railway is a strategic gamechanger, but more important than that is the new Techo Funan Canal in Cambodia. This canal is a China-funded and contracted mega waterway that will span over 110 miles (180 km) from the Mekong River at Phnom Penh to the sea, with construction set to start this year. By building this canal, Cambodia now gets to bypass the Mekong Delta, which is in Vietnamese territory and subsequently transforms its capital city into a direct port. This canal strengthens China-backed Cambodia and deals a strategic blow to Vietnam, weakening its hold over its neighbor. Cambodia is thus transformed, from a historical subordinate to Hanoi into a commercial competitor. It is no surprise that the Techo Funan Canal has attracted Vietnamese fears and opposition. Vietnam has to dine at the table while ensuring it is not the menu. +-----+ #] SWIFT must be ‘killed off’ – top Russian banker 18Apr2024 https://www.rt.com/business/596165-kill-swift-vtb-kostin/ SWIFT must be ‘killed off’ – top Russian banker Digital banking will create sovereignty, VTB chief Andrey Kostin says A move away from conducting financial transactions through Western payment systems, including SWIFT, is vital for Russia and its trading partners, the head of the country’s second-largest lender has said. Speaking on Thursday at the Data Fusion 2024 conference, VTB CEO Andrey Kostin called for the promotion of digital financial settlements in Russia and allied nations. Such a step would end the dominance of the dollar and gain full sovereignty in the financial sector, he claimed. “SWIFT has announced plans to carry out digital payments soon, but we need to kill SWIFT in our settlements, we need to completely get away from it and involve our partners in this as well,” the banking executive insisted, highlighting major work that is being done by the Bank of Russia to achieve the goal. Earlier this month, Kostin admitted that the latest US sanctions had forced banks in several ‘friendly’ countries – Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan – to halt transactions with Russia and stop accepting Russia’s Mir payment cards. In February, the US Treasury updated its backlist of Russian individuals and entities, adding the operator of Russia’s Mir payment card system to it. +-----+ #] Swedish shell production plant 17Apr2024 KI Farrell https://kyivindependent.com/inside-the-swedish-ammunition-plant-at-the-forefront-of-europes-push-to-ramp-up-shell-production/ Inside the Swedish ammunition plant at the forefront of Europe’s push to ramp up shell production This facility is a large-caliber ammunition foundry belonging to Norwegian-Finnish defense company Nammo, one of Europe’s foremost manufacturers of NATO-standard shells. Munitions produced here range all the way from 40mm autocannon rounds upward, but it is the largest caliber that is most prized and most in demand: the 155mm howitzer shell. “We are in the middle of a transition (to focus on 155mm shells),” said Martin Stang, the site manager and vice-president for Nammo’s large-caliber operations in Sweden, on an exclusive tour for the Kyiv Independent. “It's a fairly quick switch,” he said, adding that the transition was driven by the initiative of European governments. Without giving concrete figures for monthly production targets, Nammo claims it will triple production in two years starting from 2024, with the help of funding from Nordic governments and EU funds. But while Russia has used this time to give its massive Soviet-era arms industry a shot in the arm, complimented by a huge shipment of shells from North Korea, Ukraine’s ammunition situation has only gotten worse. +-----+ #] Ukraine rejecting the Belarusian opposition? 17Apr2024 KI Sierakowski https://kyivindependent.com/opinion-why-is-ukraine-rejecting-the-belarusian-opposition/ Opinion: Why is Ukraine rejecting the Belarusian opposition? Immediately after World War II, the Paris-exiled Polish intellectual Jerzy Giedroyc (of Lithuanian origins, born in Minsk) coined a phrase that would come to define Poland’s foreign policy toward its eastern neighbors: “There will be no independent Poland without an independent Belarus, Lithuania, and Ukraine.” Since the fall of communism, it has been an article of diplomatic faith in Warsaw. Ukrainian patriots, who inspired current Ukrainian policies, have thought similarly. Even if Ukraine fully liberates its Russian-occupied territories, Poles and Ukrainians will not feel truly secure as long as Belarus’ longtime dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, continues his misrule. Therefore, an alliance between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration and the Belarusian opposition therefore seems natural. Unfortunately, nothing of the kind has emerged. Fortunately, voices in the Ukrainian press are pushing for the Ukrainian government to change its incomprehensible position. “Will Kyiv start communicating with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at least sometimes?” asks an editorial by European Pravda. “She has become a symbol of the Belarusian opposition to the whole world, and Kyiv conspicuously ignores her.” Similarly, Bohdan Yaremenko, a Ukrainian member of parliament, wrote, “In front of us is a window of opportunity to protect ourselves and help restore freedom to our brotherly people, whose representatives defend the Ukrainian will in the same order of battle as the Ukrainians.” +-----+ Bartosz [redacted] Yesterday·Edited Well said. I noticed many Ukrainians, whether out of frustration or not, being opposed to people instead of regimes. What do I mean by that? I remember in 2023, when the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Svoboda Legion entered the theater on Ukrainians side, many Ukrainians either ignored them, or talked bad at them, even though these people were stationed at Bakhmut alongside their Ukrainian partners in arms and later led incursions into Russia to keep Putin’s forces occupied in Belgorod. Also, while the ⬜️🟦⬜️ have become the colors of Russian opposition to Putin’s fascism, I regularly see too many Ukrainians sneer at it. This is not good. This is not how you build coalitions and alliances against your enemy. This is another form of isolationism - dismissing help, when it is right in front of you. Say what you want about (former) Navalny, Khodorkovsky or Kasparov. But those people are actually helping you fight Putin, and by that, to survive! Fighting Russians and Belarusians, just because they are born and raised in Russia or Belarus is neither glorious, nor helpful. You got to be able to distinguish friend from foe. Otherwise, you will be left alone. That all being said, I understand the situation Ukrainians are finding themselves in and the frustration that mounts with it. Not being able to fight a war properly because of lack of western support, while also having to literally beg for every little bit of help and, in the meantime, trying to shield its western partners from Russia’s hybrid war because apparently they aren’t capable of countering it themselves. +-----+ #] Kateryna Hodunova: 18Apr2024 Ukraine destroys Crimean [missile launchers, radar stations] Military intelligence: Ukraine destroys missile launchers, radar stations at Russian military airfield in Crimea https://kyivindependent.com/military-intelligence-ukraine-destroys-missile-launchers-radar-stations-at-russian-military-airfield-in-crimea/ Ukraine destroyed several units of military equipment in an attack on a Russian military airfield in Dzhankoi in occupied Crimea on April 17, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported. Ukraine's military intelligence on April 18 said that Ukrainian forces had destroyed four S-400 launchers, three radar stations, a command post for air defense operations, and air space surveillance equipment Fundament-M in the attack. +-----+ #] Pavel Durov (Telegram founder): Apple and Google more dangerous than governments https://www.rt.com/news/596070-telegram-durov-reveals-pressure-us/ Apple and Google more dangerous than governments – Telegram founder Pavel Durov has slammed the tech giants for their attempts to curtail freedom of speech +-----+ #] Maksym Skrypchenko: Is China growing tired of Russia’s war in Ukraine? 17Apr2024 https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/4/17/is-china-growing-tired-of-russias-war-in-ukraine There are signs that Beijing may be getting cold feet about its deepening entanglement. On the surface, China has emerged as one of the principal beneficiaries of the war. Its purchases of discounted Russian energy have provided the Kremlin with a vital economic lifeline amid Western sanctions. Moreover, the depletion of United States and NATO weapons stockpiles has led some to argue that an extended war could give China’s military a strategic advantage over rivals who are burning through their arsenals in their efforts to support Ukraine. Yet, the European military buildup, spurred by the ongoing war, could pose a significant challenge to any Chinese military ambitions. This dynamic suggests that a prolonged war in Europe may not be in Beijing’s best interest, contrary to some interpretations. If such private assurances were made, they spectacularly failed to anticipate Ukraine’s fierce resistance and the West’s resolve to arm and support Kyiv. Far from the display of overwhelming force that could have emboldened China’s ambitions towards Taiwan, the war has revealed Russia as a declining power whose military capabilities are no match for Ukraine’s defensive commitment. This miscalculation has forced Beijing to grapple with the sad reality. Rather than showcasing how a superpower can easily subdue a smaller neighbour, the war has exposed the risks, costs and potential for catastrophic miscalculation. +-----+ #] Farhad Ibragimov: Iran’s attack on Israel is a major change 17Apr2024 https://www.rt.com/news/596091-irans-attack-victory-or-defeat/ Middle East redefined: Iran’s retaliatory attack on Israel signaled a major change in the region Was Tehran’s ‘symbolic’ attack on the Jewish state a victory or a defeat for the future? Almost two weeks of suspense followed as the world waited for Iran’s response, which seemed logically inevitable. Pundits and analysts mostly considered two obvious options that Iran could use: either give a mirror response and hit Israeli territory or one of its diplomatic offices in the region, or use its proxy forces, which are as much of a problem for Israel as Iran itself. But Tehran decided to take a third course, both launching a direct attack and using its allies in the region. This attack made history as it was Iran’s first direct assault on Israel. Among other things, it was the most massive drone attack on record, estimated to have involved more than 200 UAVs, as well as 150 cruise missiles, 110 Shahab-3, Sajil-2 and Kheibar surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, and seven Fattah-2 hypersonic cruise missiles. The strikes were launched from multiple locations including Iran, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and the part of Yemen controlled by the Ansar Allah Houthi group. +-----+ #] Slovakia’s prime minister: Kiev’s accession to NATO would risk a global war 17Apr2024 https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/4/17/is-china-growing-tired-of-russias-war-in-ukraine NATO member explains why it will block Ukraine from joining Kiev’s accession would risk a global war, Slovakia’s prime minister has warned Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it views NATO’s continuing eastward expansion as a national security threat. Russia cited the bloc’s military cooperation with Ukraine as one of the root causes of the current conflict and described Kiev’s potential accession as a “red line.” +-----+ #] Opinion: A look at the drone arsenal Russia uses against Ukraine 16Apr2024 https://kyivindependent.com/opinion-a-look-at-the-drone-arsenal-russia-uses-against-ukraine/ Forposts The Forpost, a licensed replica of the Israeli IAI Searcher, is the most well-known of Russia’s drones from the 2010s. Russia likely only has around 30 Forpost systems, each comprised of three to six drones. Orlan-10s More abundant in Russia’s drone arsenal is the Orlan-10, which the Russian military started to use in 2013. Mass-produced due to its simple and cheap design, some sources indicate that it only lasts 10-20 flights. However, as Ukraine ramped up its drone countermeasures, the Orlan-10 became virtually obsolete. It has gradually been replaced by the more advanced ZALA and SuperCam drones. The Russian military has lost around 200 Orlan-10s as of early April, according to ORYX. ZALAs, SuperCams, and Eleron-3s Russian forces have used ZALA 421-16 drones against Ukraine since May 2022. Manufactured by the ZALA Aero Group in Russia’s Udmurt Republic, the ZALA 421-16 has a range of 50-70 kilometers (31.1-43.5 miles) and was initially sold for civilian use. It’s unknown how many ZALA 421-16s the Russian military has, but it has lost around 50 since the start of the full-scale war. Russia has used the SuperCam S350, manufactured by Unmanned Solutions in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, since early 2023. While it’s considered more resistant to electronic warfare, its range and flight duration are similar to that of smaller drones. It’s estimated that 15-20% of the drones used by the Russian military at the front in Ukraine were SuperCam S350s by the end of 2023. Verified losses according to ORYX amount to 23 drones as of early April. The Eleron-3, produced by the Russian company Enics, has been part of Russia’s tactical drone arsenal since 2012. Russian forces resorted to Eleron-3s on the front more frequently from the early fall of 2022 after significant Orlan-10 losses. The Russian military likely had 200 Eleron-3s at the start of the full-scale invasion and have lost three dozen thus far. Orions Russia’s attempt at a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone is the Orion, which has been produced by the Kronshtadt Group since 2011. The Orion’s designers modeled the drone off of the American-made General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drone. However, it turned out much smaller and with a lower altitude ceiling than the American original, as it is equipped with a less powerful engine. While the American Reaper has an altitude ceiling of 15 kilometers (9.3 miles), the Russian Orion can only fly up to 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles). It’s hard to estimate how many Orion drones the Russian military has, but the frequency at which they’re used at the front in Ukraine indicates that they are not mass-produced. Six Orions have been destroyed since the start of the full-scale war, according to Oryx. Kamikaze and Iranian-made drones Kamikaze drones, or loitering munitions, deserve special attention. Kamikaze drones “commit suicide” by loitering around a target area before attacking the target by crashing into it. Because they differ so significantly from traditional reconnaissance drones, we won’t dive too deeply. We will note, however, that Russia uses two main types of kamikaze drones: the tactical ZALA Lancet and the strategic Shahed-131 and -136. Russia sources Shahed drones from Iran, although it is trying to localize production at a plant in Tatarstan (which the Ukrainian military recently hit with drones). Notably, Shahed drones are used extensively to destroy military and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, as well as to inflict casualties. Trends in Russian drone production There are three main trends in the development of Russian drones amid its war against Ukraine. First, the Russian military is making an effort to patch up their drones’ vulnerabilities. Alongside traditional means of protection against electronic warfare and other countermeasures (e.g., changing the range of drones’ communication lines with their respective control stations), the Russian military has also been using less traditional methods. Drones equipped with optical navigation systems, for example, allow the drone to enter a reconnaissance area in “radio silence,” helping them remain undetected by electronic warfare. Second, there has been an increase in the range of Russian tactical drones – even small ones. Third, Russia has massively scaled up drone production to supply its troops on the front with as many as possible. This only highlights the importance of supplying Ukraine with more air defense systems to protect the Ukrainian military and civilians alike from Russian drone attacks. 08********08 #] 07Apr2024 week +-----+ #] 13Apr2024 Iran confirms ‘extensive’ strike against Israel https://www.rt.com/news/595879-iran-israel-strike/ 13 Apr, 2024 20:58 Iran confirms ‘extensive’ strike against Israel The Islamic Republic has launched multiple drones on the Jewish state, according to media reports +-----+ #] https://www.rt.com/news/595946-israel-high-cost-to-defend-against-iranian-attack/ Israeli general reveals cost of defending against attack – media It reportedly took upward of $1.3 billion worth of interceptor missiles and other materials to shoot down Iran’s aerial barrages Israel has claimed success in defending itself against Saturday’s drone and missile barrages by Iran, but that effort reportedly came at a high price. The interceptors, jet fuel and other materials expended in shooting down Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles cost about 4 billion to 5 billion shekels ($1.06 billion to $1.33 billion), Israeli Brigadier General Reem Aminoach told local media outlet Ynet News on Sunday. The estimate included only Israel’s direct costs, not counting the considerable weaponry used by the US and other allies in helping to defend against the attack. Aminoach, formerly the financial adviser to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff, said West Jerusalem used such munitions as Arrow and David’s Sling interceptor missiles, which have per-unit costs of about $3.5 million and $1 million, respectively. He also included sortie expenses for the fighter jets that did the bulk of the work in shooting down Iranian drones. Israeli military embellishes video of Iranian attack Read more Israeli military embellishes video of Iranian attack The general lamented that it was far cheaper for Iran to launch the attack than for Israel to defend itself. “The attack cost Iran less than 10% of what it cost us to defend against it,” he told Ynet. “In the future – in a year, two years, or five years – they can carry out 50 such attacks. And let’s say that if the IDF’s net budget in 2023 was 60 billion shekels, with less than double that you have no chance of reaching a situation where we can maintain the required amounts.” +-----+ #] Lapatina, Farrell 13Apr2024: Ukraine has a [, de]mobilization problem https://kyivindependent.com/this-week-in-ukraine-s2-e14-ukraine-has-a-mobilization-problem/ This Week in Ukraine S2 E14 – Ukraine has a mobilization problem by Anastasiia Lapatina and Francis Farrell April 13, 2024 5:12 PM Weekly host Anastasiia Lapatina Interviewee : Kyiv Independent reporter Francis Farrell Farrell: infantry is all gone: [kill, wound]ed, have to train new recruits from scratch Farrell: old head of defence wants 450-500k men, didn't give time period every military person requires 6 taxpayers to fund Zelenski says its too much demographics already dire, don't want to mobilize 18-25yr olds new military leader says new estimate is enough regional recruiting corruption no-one wants to take responsibility for un-popular measures Lapatina: corruption of recruiting system, companies +-----+ #] Ostiller, KyivInd: Syrskyi: eastern front has significantly deteriorated in recent days https://kyivindependent.com/syrskyi-situation-on-eastern-front-has-significantly-deteriorated-in-recent-days/ Syrskyi: 'Situation on eastern front has significantly deteriorated in recent days' by Nate Ostiller and The Kyiv Independent news desk April 13, 2024 1:45 PM The situation on Ukraine's eastern front has "significantly deteriorated in recent days" amid an intensification of Russia's offensive efforts, the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on April 13. The dire warning comes against the backdrop of a shortage of ammunition plaguing the Ukrainian military, which has been exacerbated by an ongoing impasse in Congress over U.S. aid. Syrskyi said that warm, dry weather has enabled Russia to increase its armored assaults in the areas of Bakhmut, Lyman, and Pokrovsk. +-----+ #] Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 778 12Apr2024 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/12/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-778 As the war enters its 778th day, these are the main developments. Ukraine needs military aid and air defence systems in the face of Russia’s intensifying attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as he criticised his country’s allies for engaging in “lengthy discussions” and “turning a blind eye”. Ukraine risks collapsing under Russia’s onslaught without US support, a disaster that could embolden China and prompt a new crisis in East Asia, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told US lawmakers during a state visit to Washington, DC, urging them to overcome “self-doubt” about the country’s role on the world stage. +-----+ #] Al Jazeer: Zelenskyy slams allies as Russia intensifies attacks 11Apr2024 ‘Turning a blind eye’: Zelenskyy slams allies as Russia intensifies attacks Ukraine president says country needs air defence systems and not ‘lengthy’ talks as Russia targets energy infrastructure. 11 Apr 2024 | Updated: 11 Apr 2024 02:27 PM (GMT) Ukraine’s parliament on Thursday passed a bill to overhaul its army mobilisation rules as it tries to generate fresh manpower to rotate its troops. The measure, which must be signed by Zelenskyy before it becomes law, would oblige men between 18 and 60 years to update their personal data with the military authorities, allowing draft offices to see more easily who can be called up in any region. The bill also does not set any time limit for wartime military service, meaning that soldiers who have been fighting since the beginning of the invasion will have no dembilisation date and a chance to return home. The final, amended text of the contentious measures was still to be published on the parliament’s website. Ukraine’s General Yuriy Sodol told parliament that Russian forces outnumber Ukrainian troops seven to 10 times in eastern regions. “We lack manpower,” said Sodol, who is commanding soldiers in the regions of Kharkiv, Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. +-----+ #] Zelensky: Russia has spies in Ukraine’s top military echelons 11Apr2024 11:03 https://www.rt.com/russia/595734-russia-spies-ukraine-counteroffensive/ Kiev claims its 2023 counteroffensive was derailed because the battle plans were leaked Russian influence has penetrated the US political system and warped the information field around the world, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky claimed in an interview with Politico on Tuesday. Zelensky was asked to comment on recent statements made by two Republican lawmakers: Mike Turner of Ohio and Mike McCaul of Texas. They claimed that “pro-Russian” propaganda has filtered into the minds of some of the members of Congress, which has failed to greenlight the $60 billion aid package for Kiev. The Ukrainian leader stated that Russia has succeeded in distorting “the information field of the world.” “They have their lobbies everywhere: in the United States, in the EU countries, in Britain, in Latin America, in Africa,” he said. “When we talk about the Congress — do you notice how they work with society in the United States?” he noted, adding that the scale of Russian influence in the US has been underestimated. He claimed that US citizens were helping Russia by spreading its ideas in the American media. “They pump their narratives through the media,” Zelensky said. “These are not Russian citizens or natives of Russia, no. They are representatives of certain media groups, citizens of the United States.” According to Zelensky, these people work in the US media and deliver the appropriate messages, which are sometimes “very pro-Russian.” He hasn’t mentioned any names though. Following the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine in 2022, Western governments launched a large censorship campaign against Russian media they deem to be ‘state-controlled’. Multiple Russian TV stations and media outlets, including RT, have been either blocked or prevented from operating in the US and some other Western countries. +-----+ #] Zelensky: US citizens backing Russia 11 Apr, 2024 13:55 https://www.rt.com/russia/595727-us-citizens-back-russia-zelensky/ Moscow’s lobby has pierced American politics, the Ukrainian president has claimed >> Howell: Shades of WWII project by Dad & I, but far too primitive and hollow. Franklin Delano Roosevelty was a puppet on a chain in WWII. Things are even worse now, Biden may even be dumber than Roosevelt, and the voting public women definitely are dogShit, if that is possible +-----+ #] Huge Iranian counter-strike expected within hours – US 12Apr2024 15:31 https://www.rt.com/news/595821-iran-missile-drone-strike-israel/ Hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles could rain down on Israel over the weekend, American officials claim The US believes that Iran’s response will be “larger than usual,” but not substantial enough to provoke a reaction from Washington, American officials told Politico on Tuesday. The Iranians are “looking to calibrate it, so they essentially don’t overplay their hand,” one source said. Israel ready to attack Iranian nuclear sites – media READ MORE: Israel ready to attack Iranian nuclear sites – media Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Iranian sources said that Khamenei has been presented with a number of military options, including strikes on Israeli power plants and infrastructure with medium-range ballistic missiles. The Ayatollah has yet to choose his preferred response, one source said, adding that Khamenei is “weighing the political risk.” +-----+ #] Fyodor Lukyanov: Iran’s present should be Israel’s future 11Apr2024 19:07 The Jewish state can’t change its location, so it must learn to embrace the Middle East >> well written, perhaps utopian +-----+ #] Al Jazeera: houses and streets underwater in Russia and Kazakhstan 11Apr2024 https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/4/11/drone-video-shows-extent-of-snow-melt-flooding-russia-and-kazakhstan Drone video shows rows of houses and streets underwater in Russia and Kazakhstan, where thousands of people have had to evacuate their homes due to flooding caused by unusually severe melting snow and ice. +-----+ #] Al Jazeera 11Apr2024: Russia’s Angara A5 rocket blasts off into space https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/11/russias-angara-a5-rocket-blasts-off-into-space-after-two-aborted-launches Russia’s Angara A5 rocket blasts off into space after two aborted launches Russia wants to use rocket’s cargo capacities to deliver modules for a future rival to the International Space Station. The development of the Angara A5, a heavy booster rocket designed to ferry tonnes of equipment into space, has been beset by delays. The first Angara A5 test flight took place in 2014, and another followed in 2020, both from the Plesetsk space facility in Arkhangelsk, 800km (497 miles) north of Moscow. The Angara A5 is said to be much more environmentally friendly compared with Proton M, Russia’s heavy-lift rocket that has been in operation since the mid-1960s. Moscow plans to use the rocket’s cargo capacities to deliver modules for a rival to the International Space Station (ISS) that it hopes to construct in the coming years. Russia’s space programme has been hit by a number of high-profile setbacks in recent years. Last month, its launch of a Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS was also delayed for two days. Three astronauts – from Russia, Belarus and the United States – were strapped in and ready for takeoff when a “voltage dip” triggered an automatic shutdown seconds before blastoff. Russia’s first mission to the moon in almost 50 years failed last year when a lander crashed into the lunar surface. +-----+ #] Elsa Court & KyivIndNews 11Apr2024: DTEK thermal plants damaged in Russia's overnight attack https://kyivindependent.com/dtek-thermal-plants-damaged/ DTEK thermal plants damaged in Russia's overnight attack DTEK's facilities were targeted at least 10 times in March as Russia renewed its campaign of attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, resulting in 80% DTEK's thermal generating capacity being damaged or destroyed. Russian forces launched a massive aerial attack across Ukraine overnight on April 11, targeting critical infrastructure in multiple regions with 40 drones and 42 missiles. According to the Air Force, the main direction of the attack was Lviv Oblast, where a gas distribution facility and a substation were targeted. A drone strike caused a fire at a critical infrastructure facility in Kyiv Oblast, which came under attack for over five hours, Governor Ruslan Kravchenko said. Energy infrastructure was also targeted in Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Kharkiv oblasts. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov told residents to expect power outages and said that the metro would be out of service for several hours. +-----+ #] Kateryna Hodunova 11Apr2024: Kyiv Oblast plant loses 100% of generation capacity https://kyivindependent.com/centerenergo-russia-strike-destroys-thermal-power-plant-in-kyiv-oblast/ Energy company loses 100% of generation capacity after Russia destroys Kyiv Oblast plant A Russian attack overnight on April 11 destroyed the Trypillia Thermal Power Plant in the city of Ukrainka in Kyiv Oblast, Andrii Hota, the chair of Ukraine's state energy company Centerenergo's supervisory board, told Interfax-Ukraine. Russian forces launched a massive aerial attack across Ukraine overnight on April 11, targeting critical infrastructure in multiple regions. Kyiv Oblast had been under attack with drones for over five hours. The Kyiv Oblast military administration reported as of around 7 a.m. local time that drone strikes caused a fire at a critical infrastructure facility. Centerenergo later announced that the Russian attack against the Trypillia plant led to the destruction of 100% of the company's generation capacity. Russian troops previously destroyed the company's Zmiiv Thermal Power Plant during the March 22 strike on Kharkiv Oblast. Another Centerenergo's thermal power plant in the city of Svitlodarske in Donetsk Oblast has been under Russian occupation since July 2022. "It is a dark day in Centerenergo's history," the statement read. The Trypillia Thermal Power Plant was the main electricity supplier to Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Cherkasy oblasts. The Russian strike led to a large-scale fire in the turbine house of the plant, according to Hota. All the plant's workers who were on the shift during the attack survived, he added. Ukrainka's Mayor Oleksandr Turenko subsequently called on local citizens to make water stocks and charge all the devices without clarifying the consequences of the attack. Emergency services are currently working at the impact scene to extinguish the fire. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, previously said Russia damaged its two thermal power plants during overnight strikes on April 11 without specifying their location. Energy infrastructure was also targeted in Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Kharkiv oblasts. "$d_projMaj"'History/Ukraine-Russia/images' Kateryna Hodunova 11Apr2024: Kyiv Oblast plant loses 100% of generation capacity.png +-----+ #] China tells US it won’t be bullied on Russia 10 Apr, 2024 18:10 https://www.rt.com/news/595703-china-us-threats-russia/ China tells US it won’t be bullied on Russia Washington has repeatedly threatened unspecified “consequences” over the Ukraine conflict +-----+ #] Nate Ostiller 08Apr2024: Russian missile ship set on fire near Kaliningrad https://kyivindependent.com/russian-missile-ship-reportedly-set-on-fire-near-kaliningrad/ Russian missile ship set on fire near Kaliningrad, Ukraine's intelligence claims The Kyiv Independent news desk April 8, 2024 6:31 PM The Russian missile ship Serpukhov, which was docked off the exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, was set on fire on April 8, Ukraine's military intelligence claimed. In a post on Telegram, the agency said that the fire had "disabled" the ship and that "its means of communication and automation were "completely destroyed." The military intelligence also shared a video appearing to show a fire breaking out on the ship. A source from Ukraine's military intelligence confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that its operatives were behind the fire. It was the first such attack on Russian naval assets in the Baltic Sea. Russian authorities announced earlier on April 8 that the Russian ice navigation vessel Katerina Velikaya caught fire while undergoing repairs at the shipyard Dalzavod in the far eastern city of Vladivostok. One person was killed, and three others were injured, Russian authorities said, adding that the circumstances of the fire were under investigation. "$d_proMaj"'History/Ukraine-Russia/images/' Nate Ostiller 08Apr2024: Russian missile ship Serpukhov set on fire near Kaliningrad.png 08********08 #] 31Mar2024 month +-----+ #] Giorgio Cafiero, aljazeera 04Apr2024: Finland’s first 12 months in NATO.png https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/4/a-year-of-living-less-dangerously-finlands-first-12-months-in-nato?traffic_source=KeepReading A year of living less dangerously? Finland’s first 12 months in NATO Finland’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been to move away from policy of self-reliance and embrace the alliance. "$d_projMaj"'/History/Ukraine-Russia/images/' Giorgio Cafiero, aljazeera 04Apr2024: NATO members 1949-present.png +-----+ #] Martin Fornusek 05Apr2024: SBU attack against Russia's Morozovsk airbase destroys 6 planes https://kyivindependent.com/source-attack-on-morozovsk-airbase-carried-out-by-sbu-6-planes-destroyed/ SBU attack against Russia's Morozovsk airbase destroys 6 planes "$d_web"'ProjMajor/History/Ukraine-Russia/images/' Martin Fornusek 05Apr2024 Su-34 jet.png Kyiv Indep 05Apr2024 several Russian bombers, bear & other.png Russian Defense Min ?date? A Zircon hypersonic missile launched from Russia's Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate.png +-----+ #] Farrell, Zashko 06Mar2024 Between life and death in front-line Krasnohorivka https://kyivindependent.com/video/?slug=between-life-and-death-in-front-line-krasnohorivka by Francis Farrell, Olena Zashko Mar 8, 2024 The Kyiv Independent visited Krasnohorivka, just 15 kilometers west of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, in February 2024, just two weeks before Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to break into the city. 800m to Russian positions +-----+ #] Anastasiia Lapatina 30Mar2024 Is Ukraine running out of air defense missiles? https://kyivindependent.com/video/?slug=between-life-and-death-in-front-line-krasnohorivka This Week in Ukraine S2 E12 – Is Ukraine running out of air defense missiles? Season 2 Episode 12 is dedicated to Ukraine's struggles with air defense, amid intensifying Russian missile attacks. ?Norwegian interviewee? - Farbgan Hoffman?, UofOslo Ukraine defenses : long-range defense systems: US Patriot, SAM-T French long-rangeL ballistic threats [Kinjal?, M2 ballistic], high alt missiles like [Zirkon, higher altitude cruise missiles like KH-22 anti-ship repurposed to land] medium layer : NASAMs (Norway-American), RST (Germany), sub-sonic (cruise missiles [H101, Calibur?, Shartron?]), low-lying threats cannot use for short-range ballistic missiles (radar, controls, range, optimistic) use different algorithms shorter-range point systems: German airbort?, legacy Russian systems that Ukraine already had closer to installations max 10-30 km range (electrical, other protection) guns etc against cr (Landats, guns) just a last measure Lapatina - Ukraine demands shifting to defense from previous offense statements ?Norwegian interviewee? - Russia war-time production, Ukraine always short Germany may have production 2026 of Patriot-like intercepts never had large arsenal, also true of Netherlands and other countries Lapatina - not offensive lkike [Hymar, ??] easier to sell politically ?Norwegian interviewee? - defense sysstems more expensive than weapon systems themselves financial cost makes it a tough sell Lapatina - how many weapons does Russia have? ?Norwegian interviewee? - 50-60 cruise missles/month, 5-19 short-range/month, now much up advantage for Russians to do large number of missiles in burts need stockpile : 100-200 [cruise, short range missiles] Lapatina - can Ukraine own defense systmes? ?Norwegian interviewee? - wouldn't be smart, opportunity costs use own attack systmes against sites in Russia Neptune anti-ship for land targets, Korshun? land attack missile (Soviet legacy + Neptune) subSAM short-range ballistic against maritime & aircraft facilities Ukraine has prioritized long-range drone producution should advance crise & missile programs subscribe to special discussion group Lapatina - F-16 defenses? ?Norwegian interviewee? - not good long-rage, maybe good FlyFox on Russian jets shoot down before can deploy FlyFox +-----+ #] Andrii Kharuk Opinion 02Apr2024: What’s left of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet? (BSF) https://kyivindependent.com/opinion-whats-left-of-russias-black-sea-fleet/ An early symbol of humiliation was the destruction of the Russian cruiser Moskva, the BSF’s flagship, by Ukrainian Neptune missiles in mid-April 2022. This marked the second time in history that a cruiser-class ship was destroyed in combat since the Argentine ARA General Belgrano was sunk by a British submarine during the Falklands War in 1982. The Moskva was the only ship in the BSF equipped with anti-aircraft missile systems, meaning it was capable (at least theoretically) of defending not only itself but also an entire naval formation from an air attack. After the Moskva was destroyed, the BSF could no longer operate freely in the northwestern part of the Black Sea, and plans for a naval landing near Odesa were finally put to rest. >> great detail on ships lost +-----+ #] Kateryna Denisova 03Apr2024: How Ukraine hit a Russian drone factory 1,300 kilometers away https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-launches-long-range-attacks-on-russia-setting-shahed-type-drone-factory-as-a-target/ For the first time since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine attacked facilities in Russia's Tatarstan Republic, some 1,300 kilometers from the country's border. On April 2, overnight, drones attacked production facilities in the cities of Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan Head Rustam Minnikhanov said. A source in Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent that the agency was behind the attack. The target – a manufacturing facility for the Shahed-type attack drones, which Russia regularly uses in attacks against Ukraine, including those targeting civilian and energy infrastructure. The factory is the first in Russia to produce the low-cost Iranian drones, vital for the Kremlin's war effort. Another target of the Ukrainian long-range drone strike was Russia's third-largest oil refinery in the city of Nizhnekamsk, a source in the Security Service (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent. The source added that the attack was a joint operation carried out by the SBU and HUR. Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory began in May 2023, with the recent uptick in attacks on oil refineries in 2024. In total, the latest attacks have disrupted between 12-14% of Russia's refining capacity, according to Bloomberg. It is unknown what kind of weapon was used to attack Tatarstan. After the video of the strike was published, the Russian media claimed that it might not be a regular drone used for an attack but a converted Ukrainian-produced Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat light aircraft. Oleksandr Kovalenko, a military analyst and co-founder of the Information Resistance project, does not rule out that it is "quite possible" to adapt this aircraft to be used as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). "It is more than 1,000 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, and the Russians saw that this was a big problem. It turned out that this production facility in Tatarstan, in which they invested a lot of money, is not rare. Weapons are reaching there, and air defense will not save them. I think this is just the beginning," Kovalenko said. +-----+ #] Andrea Januta 03Apr2024: Zelensky’s party falters, Ukrainian parliament drifts to standstill https://kyivindependent.com/as-zelenskys-party-falters-parliament-stalls/ As Zelensky’s party falters, Ukrainian parliament drifts to standstill +-----+ #] Fornusek, Denisova 03Apr2024: Ukraine, Finland sign long-term security agreement by Martin Fornusek and Kateryna Denisova https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-finland-sign-long-term-security-agreement/ Apart from Finland, Kyiv has already signed bilateral security deals with seven other countries, including the U.K., Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands. The agreements are based on a pledge made by the Group of Seven (G7) last July. Helsinki will provide Ukraine with long-term military and financial assistance, according to the agreement. The two nations also are expected to deepen cooperation in the fields of politics, finances, reform, and in the humanitarian sphere. Finland further announced its 23rd defense aid package to Kyiv worth 188 million euros ($200 million). This brings the total military aid provided to Ukraine by the Nordic country to around 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion). Finland has already joined the artillery and demining collations, one of many allied initiatives launched under the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to support individual areas of Ukraine's Armed Forces, and is considering to participate in others, "taking into account its capabilities and Ukraine's military needs," according to the deal. 08********08 #] 07Oct2022 Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera 06Oct2022: Putin’s five fatal mistakes in Ukraine https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/10/6/putins-five-arrogant-mistakes Opinions, Russia-Ukraine war Putin’s five fatal mistakes in Ukraine And how Biden’s hypocrisy feeds the Russian leader’s hubris. Marwan Bishara Senior political analyst at Al Jazeera. Published On 6 Oct 2022 Russia’s justifications for its invasion of Ukraine, like the United States’ excuses for its invasion of Iraq two decades earlier, prove that world powers have failed to learn the lessons of imperial hubris – theirs and others. From the ancient Greeks and Romans through to the more recent French, German and British powers, geopolitical arrogance is notorious for breeding fatal political stupidity. 1. First, the Russian president overestimated his military’s readiness for a protracted war of choice and misjudged Russians’ eagerness for empire by force. 2. a belief that Kyiv would surrender within days. 3. If Ukraine’s independent national identity was in doubt, Putin’s war has ended that, galvanising Ukrainian patriotism like never before, .... 4. That was Putin’s third miscalculation. He calculated that NATO was weakened by Donald Trump’s “America First” approach to Western security and would therefore be slow to react to events in the East. He also assumed that Europe’s dependency on Russian oil and gas would make it difficult to sever relations with Moscow over Ukraine. He was wrong. American boldness and European leeriness towards an emboldened and aggressive Russia have brought the two sides of the Atlantic ever closer. 5. Putin assumed that the US was in utter decline, weakened by its Afghan and Iraqi blunders, hindered by economic and domestic problems, and preoccupied with the rise of China, and would therefore react timidly to a wider crisis in Ukraine. 08********08 #] 10May2022 Putin is haunted by the loss of ‘real’ Russians https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/putin-is-haunted-by-the-loss-of-real-russians-3c996k3c7 Putin is haunted by the loss of ‘real’ Russians Population decline is the driver of the war — and may decide its outcome Dominic Lawson Sunday March 13 2022, 12.01am GMT, The Sunday Times 08********08 #] 13Mar2022 update newsFeeds once per week https://liveuamap.com/ conflict 220313 image liveuamap.com.png rip : https://kyivindependent.com/news-archive/ 14Mar2022 Fix [code, instruction]s of "$d_bin"'webPage scrape news.sh' : Change : +-----+ # 0. in "run $ bash" section below, uncomment function to run # 1. scrape (rip) news feeds : # copy-paste https://kyivindependent.com/news-archive/ page source to # "$d_temp"'kyivindependent.com page source.txt' # process with bash script # $ bash "$d_bin"'news kyivindependent.com scrape.sh' # outputs to "$d_temp"'kyivindependent.com news articles.txt' # key markers #
Sunday, March 6
# article id="post- # # copy-paste updated parts to this file # 2. remove redundancy # output goes to : "$d_temp"'' # copy-paste temp file to original news log file +-----+ To +-----+ Scrape (rip) news feeds : 1. copy-paste https://kyivindependent.com/news-archive/ page source to "$d_temp"'kyivindependent.com page source.txt' 2. process with bash script $ bash "$d_bin"'news kyivindependent.com scrape.sh' outputs go to "$d_temp"'kyivindependent.com news articles.txt' 3. geany regexpr edit of 'kyivindependent.com news articles.txt' search : ^(2022\-)Mar\- replace: \1Mar- 4. remove redundant news items - will write bash script later 5. copy-paste updated parts to this file +-----+ >> put insctions ONLY in "$d_bin"'webPage scrape news.sh' 08********08 #] 08Mar2022 Remove headline repeats from kyivindependent I added these back to the file 2022-03-07 01:30 Civilians flee in terror as Ukraine’s military deter Russia in Irpin

2022-03-06 06:55 Kyiv resident gives birth during war: ‘I forgot about the bombings only in labor’

2022-03-06 01:55 10 days of suffering. Russia’s war against Ukraine in photos

2022-03-05 20:33 Ukrainian loses parent to Russian propaganda: ‘I can consider myself an orphan’

2022-03-05 19:42 Payoneer, Paypal, Adobe suspend operations in Russia.

08********08 #] 08Mar2022 webPage comment - update format styles see "$d_sysMaint""/html/html codes notes.txt" 06Mar2022 geany regexpr cleanup (later - fix script, maybe add cleanup function to current) search replace .*
  • id=".*\n null .*
  • class="menu-item .*\n null \n\n[\n]+\n \n
    \n\n 08********08 #] 28Feb2022 'ukrinform.net news log.txt' cleanup & convert to html file webPage -> Menu -> -> Web Developer -> Page Source -> copy to this file at top of list of news items (below) 1. geany search : ^[ ]+ replace : null 2. $ cat "$d_webRawe"'History/Ukraine-Russia/ukrinform.net news log.html' | sed 's|

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