Russo-Ukrainian War Thread - Page 300

On November 02 2022 23:06 KwarK wrote:
When I read about how the Iranian drones are big, loud, low, and slow but are substantially cheaper than the interceptor missiles used to shoot them down and overwhelm defence platforms with low altitude swarms I can’t help but wonder if it’s possible for something like the Spitfire to have a new life. Ukraine has the tech to mass produce them (wooden frame, car engine) and they’re relatively easy to fly. For operating far from the front in a close air interceptor role against suicide drones they’d probably work. I wonder if we have any that we can give them.

On November 03 2022 00:20 Silvanel wrote:
Wouldn't A-10 be good in this role? Or is the avenger gun too big for that?
US wants to get rid of them anyway, and they are too slow/old to fight on front lines in Ukraine, but perhaps could be use in defense of cities against those big and slow drones.

On November 03 2022 00:20 Silvanel wrote:
Wouldn't A-10 be good in this role? Or is the avenger gun too big for that?
US wants to get rid of them anyway, and they are too slow/old to fight on front lines in Ukraine, but perhaps could be use in defense of cities against those big and slow drones.

On November 02 2022 21:05 SC-Shield wrote:
How many are casualties in this war so far? It's been a long time since there was news about this.

Belarus faces an external military threat, as conditions for a global armed conflict are taking shape, head of Belarus’ KGB security service, Ivan Tertel, said during a public event on Nov. 1.

According to Tertel, the supposed “conflict” could place Belarus under threat of a nuclear strike, or even U.S. military invasion.

"There are specific plans regarding the invasion of our territory, by the military forces from the territory of Poland as well,” Tertel said providing no evidence.

“We know of the 101st Airborne Division of the United States, which is partially already based on the territory of our neighboring state."

Contrary to what Tertel said, the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division is currently deployed in Romania, close to the Ukrainian border – as opposed to Poland.

Tertel added that a probable nuclear attack could also target Belarus.

“We also know of the paperwork regarding nuclear strikes that are planned on our territory, as it was during the Soviet Union times.” added the head of the Belarusian KGB.

Russia uses Belarus to launch air and drone strikes against Ukraine, and its initial invasion force crossed from Belarus into Ukraine on Feb. 24, seeking to capture Kyiv. Moscow and Minsk recently announced a Joint Grouping of Forces, consisting of units from the militaries of both countries, to be stationed in Belarus, north of the Ukrainian border.

On November 03 2022 04:05 {CC}StealthBlue wrote:
This is Belarus feigning an excuse in case Russia tries to move into Ukraine via their territory. One would have thought they would have looked at the 101st Press Releases when they landed in Europe rather than just saying they were next door, which of course they aren't.



Source

On November 03 2022 04:15 Gorsameth wrote:
"There are specific plans to invade our territory".
I love that line.
Its the US military, they have specific plans to invade every country on the planet. I imagine there is a whole section of the pentagon who's sole job is coming up with such plans and they need to be kept busy.

On November 03 2022 04:15 Gorsameth wrote:
"There are specific plans to invade our territory".
I love that line.
Its the US military, they have specific plans to invade every country on the planet. I imagine there is a whole section of the pentagon who's sole job is coming up with such plans and they need to be kept busy.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is sending Ukraine $400 million more in military aid and establishing a security assistance headquarters in Germany that will oversee all weapons transfers and military training for Ukraine, the Pentagon announced Friday.

The new command post, called the Security Assistance Group Ukraine, signals a more permanent, long-term program to continue to aid Kyiv in its fight against Russia, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters at the Pentagon. It will be led by a three-star-level senior officer and have about 300 personnel who will monitor the weapons assistance and training programs, said U.S. Army Europe spokesman Col. Martin O’Donnell.

The $400 million includes contracts for 1,100 Phoenix Ghost drones, funding to refurbish 45 tanks and an additional 40 riverine boats, among other systems, the Pentagon said.

The Phoenix Ghost drone is an armed “kamikaze drone” that explodes on contact with its target.

The T-72 tanks are being pulled from existing defense industry inventory in the Czech Republic — paid for by The Netherlands — and will have advanced optics, communications and armor packages. They are part of a total package of 90 of the T-72 tanks that will be sent to Ukraine through 2023, the Pentagon said.

This package also includes funds to refurbish Hawk surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles so they can be provided to Ukraine to assist in its defense against Iranian drones.

The missile system is no longer in use by the U.S. but the missiles, once refurbished, will give Ukraine another medium-range air defense option, Singh said. Hawk missiles have a longer range than the Stinger anti-aircraft missiles the U.S. has previously provided.

Because the weapons are being procured through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative they will not be ready for immediate transfer to Kyiv. Weapons provided through USAI funding are obtained through longer-term industry contracts instead of being drawn from U.S. weapons stockpiles.

One of the survivors, Russian serviceman Aleksey Agafonov, told Verstka about the losses among the conscripts as a result of a Ukrainian attack on the contact line near Makiivka in Luhansk Oblast. According to the soldier, the number of occupiers killed may exceed 500.

According to Agafonov, the commander of the battalion of conscripts, who were trained in military unit 2079, had promised that the soldiers would be brought to Svatove, where they would join the "territorial defence" 15 kilometres away from the front line. However, on the night of 2 November, the entire battalion was taken to the contact line and ordered to entrench and hold the line of defence.

"We were dumped into the forest and ordered to entrench; we had only three shovels for the battalion, and there was no support at all. We entrenched as best we could, and in the morning the [Ukrainian] attack started. [Ukrainian forces used] artillery, Grad MLRS, mortars and copters; we were just shot.

When it all started, the officers immediately ran away. In between the attacks, we tried to entrench, but the copters immediately spotted us and just shot us. Out of 570 people, 29 managed to survive, 12 more were wounded, and the rest are all dead".

Agafonov also added that before this incident, at least one other battalion of conscripts was destroyed at the same position.

"There is a beautiful picture on [Russian] TV, but in fact, here in Luhansk Oblast it is the conscripts who are dumped on the front line. When we were fleeing, we did not see any officers; when retreating, we saw that only contract soldiers and volunteers were on the third line, and draftees were directly on the front line," he said.

According to Agafonov, conscripts from all over Russia are being brought to the Svatove area to close the gaps in the defence. In Svatove, where the survivors of Agafonov's battalion retreated after the Ukrainian attack, there are "groups of 2 to 5 people" from other destroyed battalions who are just "wandering" around. He stated that the Ukrainian forces have cleared the entire territory where the conscripts fought.

Zlata, the wife of another conscript, told Verstka about the hundreds of soldiers killed. "Of course, more than half of them [conscripts] died," she said, citing her husband.

The information gathered by Verstka was also confirmed by Lyudmila Chernykh, the wife of another conscript, who managed to survive.

"He [my husband] called me in the morning from someone else's number and told me what happened, that they were left to dig the defence line, came under mortar fire, and somehow managed to get from Krasnodon to Svatove, where they are hiding. They are now afraid to go anywhere, they are even afraid to go to the checkpoints. Their commanders abandoned them, and they do not know what to do, they are just calling for help," Chernykh said.

On 5 November, the relatives of several conscripts who had come under fire held a protest near the building of the Voronezh Prosecutor's Office, demanding to be told the truth about the fate of their family members.

"They [authorities] tell us that our sons are safe and sound and are even performing their military duties. How the hell can they be safe and sound when all of them were killed there?" asked Oksana Kholodova, mother of the soldier Andrey Kholodov.

Anna, the wife of another draftee, told Verstka that the surviving conscripts are asking to be sent home. "They are being bombed there. No officers, no one is there... They were left like kittens, without training or anything. And my husband and I have a daughter, she is only 18 months old," Anna said.

In addition, those present at the Prosecutor's Office in Voronezh recorded a video message to the Governor, appealing for help.

Oleksii Makeiev, the new Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, said Kyiv is counting on the delivery of battle tanks from Germany to help it repel Russian forces.

Ukraine is currently in talks with the German government about acquiring modern, Western-made tanks, such as the Leopard 2.

"We have reason to hope that the decision will be made to deliver the Leopard 2 from Germany directly to Ukraine," Makeiev told newspapers from the Funke media group on Saturday. "We need these tanks."

He added that it was "time to stop talking about not wanting to provoke Russia. What else is going to happen? How many Buchas, Mariupols or Iziums — places of rape and mass graves — should there be?"

Germany has "shown leadership" with the delivery of the IRIS-T air defense system, the diplomat said. "And we expect this leadership role in other weapon systems. These include main battle tanks and armored vehicles."

Kyiv has repeatedly asked for modern battle tanks as it seeks to recapture territory in the south and east of the country.

Since Russia's invasion in February, Germany has sent Ukraine 30 decommissioned Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, 10 Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers and three Mars multiple rocket launchers. Berlin has also taken part in circular exchanges with third states to provide weapons indirectly to Ukraine. But it has held off on supplying Western-made battle tanks directly.

Makeiev officially became his country's ambassador to Germany last week. He succeeded Andriy Melnyk, who became known for making unusually sharp criticisms of the German government.

Via Economics Minister Guy Parmelin, the government was responding to a letter from German defence minister Christine Lambrecht, dated October 21, asking for approval to send 12,400 rounds of Swiss-made ammunition to Ukraine, for use in Gepard anti-aircraft tanks which the country needs for the war against Russia.

Kyiv says it wants the ammunition, and the tanks, to shoot down cruise missiles and kamikaze drones fired by Russian forces.