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Russia accidentally bombed itself again, the fourth time this month, UK intel says
• A Russian plane accidentally dropped bombs on Belgorod, the UK Ministry of Defence reported.
• Two FAB-250 bombs landed in villages, prompting evacuations, the MOD said, citing Russian media.
• It's the fourth time it's happened this month, and the fifth in a year, according to the MOD.
A Russian plane accidentally dropped two bombs on Russian territory, according to UK intelligence, marking the fourth time it's happened this month.

The UK Ministry of Defence highlighted the incidents in an intelligence update on Tuesday, citing a report by the independent Telegram news channel Astra.

According to the report, a Russian aircraft discharged two FAB-250 bombs in the Belgorod region last Saturday. One hit a farm in Postnikov and another struck an urban street in Streletskaya, prompting the evacuation of about 150 residents living close by, per the outlet.

No injuries were reported, and the bombs were defused on Sunday, it said.

This is the fourth such incident this month and the fifth over the last 12 months, the MOD said.

The first incident in 2024 took place on January 2, when a Russian warplane accidentally discharged a munition that damaged nine residential properties in Petropavlovka, in Russia's Voronezh Oblast, the MOD wrote in an intelligence update at the time.

Less than a week later, on January 8, Leonid Pasechnik, the head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, said a plane dropped a FAB-250 bomb on the eastern town of Rubizhne, which is located in Russia-occupied Luhansk.

At the time, the MOD said munition accidents were likely caused by inadequate training and crew fatigue, leading to poor execution of tactics during missions.

On Tuesday, it said that the incidents were likely caused by a combination of faulty procedures for arming aircraft prior to flights, poor mission execution by aircrew, and crew fatigue.

"The increasing frequency of these occurrences likely demonstrates a degree of air and ground crew fatigue within the Russian front line, as well as exposing inadequate training," the MOD said.

Russia experienced similar blunders last year, including shooting down one of its prized Su-35 fighter jets in October, bombing the Russia-occupied settlement of Nova Kakhovka in September, and striking the Russian border city of Belgorod in April.

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Military supplies delivered to Belarus aboard 4 Chinese flights, observers report
Belarusian observers reported that between 8 and 11 January, a Chinese aircraft presumably transporting military supplies touched down in the country. The exact nature of the cargo remains undisclosed, but it is noteworthy that the plane parked in the airport’s VIP zone, usually reserved for the exclusive use of self-proclaimed president Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Source: Independent Belarusian military monitoring media outlet Belaruski Hajun; Motolko.help

Quote: "At the beginning of January, the Belaruski Hajun monitoring group recorded unusual activity by the Chinese cargo airline Air China Cargo at Minsk National Airport. Over a period of four days, the Boeing 747-400F registered B-2476 completed four round-trip flights between �r�mqi (airport code ZWWW) and Minsk (UMMS)...

We have reason to believe that the cargo plane transported military equipment from China to Belarus. The cargo likely bypassed customs clearance and was transshipped out of the airport immediately, as staging the freight in the usual military cargo area would have attracted additional attention with the consignment sitting out in the open."

Details: The specific contents of what these planes brought remain unknown for now.

The flights occurred as follows:
• On 8 January 2024: Flight CAO1095 to Minsk, returning as flight CAO1096.
• On 9 January 2024: Flight CAO1097 to Minsk, returning as flight CAO1098.
• On 10 January 2024: Flight CAO1095 to Minsk, returning as flight CAO1096.
• On 11 January 2024: Flight CAO1097 to Minsk, returning as flight CAO1098.

All flights arrived in Minsk at basically the same time of day, between 09:30 and 10:10 in the morning. Additionally, they all stayed in Minsk for the same period of time to unload cargo - three hours.

Minsk National Airport has a dedicated freight terminal at which all cargo flights are usually parked. However, the Chinese aircraft in question, B-2476, was parked in an entirely different area.

Observers say that every time the Air China Cargo 747 landed, it parked in space 1A.

This spot is reserved for Belarusian government planes, including the Boeing VIP jets registered EW-001PA and EW-001PB, the self-proclaimed president Aleksandr Lukashenko's official aircraft.

Additionally, VIP parking space 1A is located far away from all others, and the exit route from the area is the shortest of any in the airport, bypassing scrutiny in the freight terminal.

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Op dinsdag 30 januari 2024 18:31 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Er zit vanuit het Westen dus geen concurrentiedruk meer op Russische productie, dus die gaan inefficient b-producten maken, eigenlijk zoals ze vroeger ook deden.

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Amount of Money in Putin's Bank Account Revealed
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has registered as a presidential candidate for the upcoming Russian election 2024, reported earnings totaling approximately 68 million rubles ($757.000) over the past six years, according to a financial disclosure published by the Central Election Commission (CEC).

The detailed declaration on the CEC's website indicates that Putin's aggregate income reached 67,591,875 rubles ($606.200). This figure includes his salary, revenue from bank deposits and securities, military pension, and proceeds from property sales.

A photo shared by Russian news site Ura.news displays specific details regarding Putin's financial situation, as well as the properties and vehicles he owns.

The image you see below is in Russian, but Dagens.com has provided an English translation beneath the picture.

Translated Document

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PUTIN VLADIMIR VLADIMIROVICH

Sources and total income for the six years preceding the election year: salary from the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, income from bank deposits, income from securities, military pension, pension, sale of property - 67,591,875.34 RUB ($757.000)

Property: 1 apartment - 77 sq. m, St. Petersburg; 1 garage - 18 sq. m, St. Petersburg.

Vehicles: 3 cars - GAZ M21, 1960, GAZ M21, 1965, Niva, 2009, Skif car trailer, 1987.

Cash in bank accounts: 10 accounts - 54,416,604.52 rubles. ($606.200)

Shares and participation in commercial organizations: PJSC Bank St. Petersburg - 230 shares (nominal value of one share is 11.81 rubles).

Property obligations: apartment - 153.7 sq. m, Moscow (indeterminate use, order of the Moscow government), parking space - 18 sq. m, St. Petersburg (unlimited use, membership in a garage cooperative).

The text above is a direct translation of the public document. For obvious reasons, we cannot be certain whether there are other amounts or properties not listed in the public records.

Among other findings, investigative journalists have discovered a secret residence near the border with Finland, believed to belong to Putin. This property is certainly not listed in the official documents. You can read more about this below:

Секретная дача Путина в Карелии / � асследование центра «Досье»

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Russia’s Strategic Use of Occupied Ukraine in Heroin Trafficking to the EU
In a recent report published by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and Europol Europol, a new dimension of Russia’s war against Ukraine has surfaced, highlighting a shift in the landscape of international drug trafficking. The report, titled “Heroin and Other Opioids,” uncovers how the conflict has altered the dynamics of heroin trade routes into the European Union European Commission.
The study sheds light on the evolution of the Caucasian heroin trafficking route, traditionally spanning from Georgia across the Black Sea to Bulgaria and Romania. With the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, this path has ominously expanded into the territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia. This development underscores a tactical shift in the narcotics trade, exploiting the turmoil of war and the lack of governance in these occupied regions.
Recent years have witnessed substantial heroin seizures along this route, indicating its growing prominence as a channel for opiate smuggling from Iran into Europe, traversing Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and now, the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. This strategic use of the occupied areas not only signifies a diversification in the drug trade routes but also raises concerns about the broader implications of the conflict on regional security and stability

The report suggests that these Ukrainian territories under Russian control are increasingly serving as critical junctures for the transit and storage of heroin, marking a troubling confluence of geopolitical conflict and international drug trafficking. This revelation presents a complex challenge, intertwining issues of international law, regional stability, and the ever-evolving landscape of global narcotics trade.

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Ukraine Uses Its Abrams Tanks In a Bit of a Weird Way? But For This Purpose, Their Capabilities Are Unparalleled
If you’re following the war in Ukraine with a decent level of interest, you’ve probably seen a lot of videos of Ukrainian tanks operating on the front lines. In many cases, those are Western-made tanks, such as the German Leopard 2. Ukraine has a good batch of American M1A1 Abrams tanks as well, but we rarely see them in this video. It turns out that it could be because they are being used in a rather strange way.

The M1A1 Abrams is a formidable weapon, up until recently employed by the US Marine Corps. It is a huge machine with very thick and tough armour and a powerful multi-fuel turbine engine. For months Ukraine kept asking the US to donate these tanks as support for its defensive effort. Eventually, the US agreed to supply 31 M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine – the ones that used to belong to the Marines.

On 25 September 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the first Abrams tanks were already operating in Ukraine. However, although we’ve seen some pictures of them, they are not that visible in the open source material. It might be due to the tactics.

Forbes reports that although M1A1 Abrams tanks appeared in Ukraine last year, these tanks are still being used very carefully and are scarce. In fact, it could be said that M1A1 Abrams are not used as tanks in Ukraine, but rather as surveillance vehicles used to support other war machines.

The M1 Abrams main battle tank has the best array of sensors of all tanks currently operated by Ukraine, notes Forbes. This is largely due to the SADA-II thermal vision system. Thanks to it, the Abrams can identify targets at a distance of up to 8 km in natural darkness. In comparison, the modernized Russian T-72B tank at night can see targets at a distance of 2 km.

Abrams’ ability in this regard surpasses all other tanks that have appeared on the frontlines in Ukraine since the beginning of the war. The M1 Abrams is a superb fighting vehicle, but Ukraine has some heavy machinery to fight with. But it is also a uniquely great data-gathering machine – a unique tool in Ukraine’s arsenal at this moment.

The Abrams, of course, allows the identification of enemy units during the day as well. Because of its unique night vision capabilities and a great array of surveillance equipment, the M1A1 Abrams tanks in Ukraine are used not just as normal main battle tanks, but as a sensor platform to gather information for other tanks to use. This is very important, but it also means that the defenders of Ukraine do not want to risk losing their existing Abrams. That is why they keep them away from the contact line.

Ukraine is suffering from a lack of ammunition. It is also waiting for new military aid to arrive. Hopefully, these issues can be resolved quickly and the Abrams tanks can be unleashed to push ahead and storm the Russian positions. Until then they will be gathering info and passing it to other machines.

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Prominent Putin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza moved to prison with harsher conditions
Jailed Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza has been transferred to a new prison facility with considerably harsher conditions, Novaya Gazeta reported on Tuesday.

Kara-Murza, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence for his outspoken criticism of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is now in a high-security prison cell in the Siberian city of Omsk in conditions that have been likened to long-term solitary confinement, similar to the ones in which opposition politician Alexey Navalny was placed last year.

The transfer was ostensibly a consequence of Kara-Murza’s refusal to stand up when told to by a prison guard, his lawyer said, adding that Kara-Murza denied that he had ever been given the order to do so.

The news came a day after supporters were informed that Kara-Murza was no longer in the Omsk correctional facility where he had been serving his sentence since November, leading them to voice fears that he had disappeared.

Kara-Murza was arrested in April 2022 and sentenced to 25 years in prison last year after being convicted on three charges of treason, spreading false information about the Russian army, and for his involvement with an “undesirable organisation”.

Kara-Murza’s lawyer said that his client was expected to remain in the facility until May.

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Russia is using electronic-warfare devices to stop Ukraine's drones — but it's messing up its internet access
• Russia is deploying electronic-warfare systems to counter drone attacks.
• But it's being forced to disable mobile internet services to prevent interference, reports said.
• Ukraine is intensifying its drone strikes in Russia, targeting the oil and gas industry.

Russia is deploying electronic-warfare units to counter Ukrainian drone strikes, but it's having to disable mobile internet across swaths of the country to do so, Russian media reported.

According to Russian business daily Kommersant, government authorities ordered 4G networks to be switched off at night between January 25-30 in Leningrad, Novgorod, and Pskov in northwestern Russia to enable anti-drone units.

The report, citing Russian telecommunications sources, said that LTE wireless broadband and electronic-warfare units both operate on the same frequencies. It added that electronic warfare can interfere with cellphone data.

The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank that tracks the Ukraine conflict, commented that it's "unclear" what impact the internet has on electronic warfare.

It said that Russia may have turned off internet services while it tested electronic-warfare systems, or redeployed its air defenses.

In recent weeks Ukraine has struck targets hundreds of miles from its border in the north of Russia using long-range drones.

On January 18, Ukraine struck an oil terminal near St Petersburg, Russia's second-biggest city. Then on January 21, it struck a gas terminal near the city.

Electronic-warfare units work by scrambling the systems used to navigate drones to their targets. It's unclear if they have been deployed in Russia before in areas with modern telecommunications systems.

According to reports, GPS data in Poland and the Baltic region was recently disabled as a result of possible Russian electronic-warfare exercises.

Russia has been forced to reorient its air defense systems to cope with the new threat from Ukraine's drones in the south, with its military previously focused on countering possible attacks from NATO in the west.

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Ex-Google CEO’s secret startup to build Ukraine AI-powered $400 kamikaze drones
The primary objective of this project, which is at the intersection of artificial intelligence and military technology, is to equip Ukraine with cutting-edge drone capabilities in its ongoing conflict with Russia and to develop an American alternative to Chinese drones.

In a groundbreaking venture that was under wraps until the beginning of this month, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has created White Stork, a startup set to revolutionize warfare with its development of low-cost kamikaze drones.

Although Storks are normally considered a symbol of peace, there is very little that is peaceful about the objective of this not-yet-publicly announced startup.

The primary objective of this project, which is at the intersection of artificial intelligence and military technology, is to equip Ukraine with cutting-edge drone capabilities in its ongoing conflict with Russia and to develop an American alternative to Chinese drones.

Mass-producible drones
Officially established in August, the company focuses on creating mass-producible drones utilizing AI for visual targeting, specifically designed to operate in environments with disrupted communication caused by GPS jamming.

Despite remaining in stealth mode, the project has become an open secret within the drone community, drawing attention to Schmidt's involvement and his extensive efforts to support Ukraine's military capabilities.

Storks are also the national bird of Ukraine.

Departing from traditional arms manufacturing approaches, Schmidt envisions the affordability and military significance of these drones as a pivotal advantage against Russia.

Schmidt's previous role as the head of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence also provides a backdrop to White Stork's emergence.

Affordable warfare?
The kamikaze drones developed by White Stork are estimated to be at a mere $400 each and come equipped with a small payload of explosives, Schmidt wrote in the Wall Street Journal in July.

Schmidt emphasized their cost-effectiveness and their relevance to the Ukrainian conflict. He pointed out the dwindling significance of conventional arms deals in favor of these AI-powered weapons.

However, Schmidt's contention that Ukraine is currently losing the drone war and predicts a surge in the importation of millions of drones by 2024, is a clear direction to where the warfare is going. The AI arms race is on.

The opaque nature of White Stork's operations, conducted through shell companies, adds an additional layer of intrigue and scrutiny surrounding the project.

Schmidt's history of advocating for military technology
The startup's operations have been concealed under various LLC names, including Swift Beat Holdings, which later changed its name to White Stork Group LLC, reported Forbes.

The umbrella corporation, Volya Robotics O�, with Schmidt as its sole beneficial owner, further adds to the project's opaque nature.

The inclusion of Sebastian Thrun, a prominent figure in the tech world and co-founder of Google's X research lab, among the veterans recruited for this project highlights the depth of expertise backing White Stork.

Schmidt's history of advocating for military technology, his extensive government connections, and his strategic investments in defense tech further solidify his role as a key player bridging Silicon Valley and the Pentagon.

Their collective knowledge, combined with the AI-powered capabilities of these kamikaze drones, presents the potential to reshape not only the ongoing Ukrainian conflict but also the future landscape of warfare, reported Interesting Engineering.

The success or failure of White Stork's ambitious endeavor will undoubtedly shape the discourse surrounding the ethical considerations and strategic implications of integrating advanced AI into the realm of modern warfare.

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Ukrainian media community, put under pressure by smear campaigns, complains to G7 ambassadors – photo
Ambassadors of the G7 countries have met with leading Ukrainian journalists regarding concerns about the decline of press freedom in Ukraine.

Source: G7 Ambassadors' Support Group for Ukraine on Twitter (X); The Kyiv Independent

Details: The Ukrainian media community has complained about being under chilling effects, following a series of campaigns to discredit independent journalists often supported by anonymous pro-government Telegram channels.

Ukrainian and international media called for those guilty of harassing the press to be identified and brought to justice.

The two most recent attacks on journalists were a home visit to investigative journalist Yurii Nikolov, who had exposed procurement violations in the Ministry of Defence under its previous leadership of Oleksii Reznikov, and the covert surveillance of the editorial office of the investigative outlet Bihus.Info.

After the meeting, the G7 tweeted: "Media freedom is the fundamental pillar of a successful democracy."

The meeting was attended by Olha Rudenko, Editor-in-Chief of The Kyiv Independent; Bihus.Info CEO Denys Bihus; Nashi Hroshi co-founder Yurii Nikolov; Andrii Boborykin, executive director of Ukraine's largest media outlet Ukrainska Pravda; Serhii Sydorenko, Editor-in-Chief of European Pravda; Vitalii Sych, Editor-in-Chief of NV; and Nataliia Lyhachova, Editor-in-Chief of Detector Media.

Among those present were Mykola Chernotytskyi, chairman of the board of Suspilne; Oleksandr Martynenko, head of the Interfax-Ukraine news outlet; Maryna Synhaivska, deputy director general of Ukrinform; Vitalii Portnikov, political analyst; and Oksana Romaniuk, director of the Institute of Mass Information.

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The Hague sets date to announce admissibility of Ukraine's "genocide" complaint against Russia
This Friday, the International Court of Justice will announce its decision on the admissibility of a complaint filed by Ukraine against Russia regarding false accusations that Kyiv had allegedly committed "genocide in Donbas", which the Kremlin used to justify its full-scale invasion.

Source: the court's press service, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Court is due to announce an interim decision on Friday 2 February, following the consideration of preliminary objections from the Russian side.

The decision is to be announced at a meeting at the Peace Palace in The Hague at 15:00 local time.

In the complaint, which Ukraine filed against Russia on 26 February 2022, Ukraine asks the court to hold Russia accountable for distorting the concept of genocide, which it used to justify its full-scale aggression, referring to a "genocide in Donbas".

In October 2022, the Russian Federation filed its preliminary objections in the case and questioned whether the ICJ could hear the complaint.

The last hearing in this case took place in September 2023. The Ukrainian side called for Russia's objections to be dismissed and for the claim to be considered in full.

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Luxembourg joins the Aviation Coalition
Luxembourg has joined an aviation coalition, within which Ukraine will receive F-16 fighter jets from Western partners.

The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announced this.

On Monday, January 29, he held an online conversation with his counterpart, Luc Frieden.

Denys Shmyhal expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister of Luxembourg for his leadership in creating the IT coalition and for joining the F-16 coalition.

The officials also discussed the implementation of joint agreements reached during the meeting between the Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos.

As part of joint efforts of the International Aviation Coalition, led by Denmark and the Netherlands, each country makes its own contribution.

Some countries, in particular, have pledged to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets free of charge. This also includes training pilots and ground personnel to maintain these fighter jets.

The aviation coalition includes: Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Canada, Poland, Romania, the USA, the Czech Republic, France and Sweden.

Currently, Ukrainian military pilots and maintenance personnel are undergoing training, in particular in Denmark.

At the beginning of January this year, the Norwegian Air Force delivered two F-16 fighter jets to Denmark for training Ukrainian pilots.

Belgium will also send two F-16 fighter jets and about fifty personnel to Denmark between March and September for training Ukrainian pilots.

Ukrainian pilots are being or will be trained in the USA, Romania, Denmark, France and the UK.

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Ukraine’s top general refuses request from Zelenskiy to step down
Personality clashes blamed for conflict between president and popular commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi

Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked his most senior military commander, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, to step down on Monday but the popular general refused, triggering speculation that he will be dismissed instead.

Tensions between the two have been simmering for weeks amid the failure of Ukraine’s summer counter-offensive but the suggestion that Zaluzhnyi could be forced out nevertheless came as a shock to many.

Oleksii Goncharenko, a Ukrainian opposition MP and ally of the general, told the Guardian that he understood that “yesterday the president asked Zaluzhnyi to resign but he declined to do so”.

He blamed personality clashes for the conflict. “Personally I think this is a bad idea. There are not fundamental issues between them but Zelenskiy’s office has been concerned that Zaluzhnyi has been making political not military statements,” Goncharenko said.

Expectations that Zaluzhnyi could be forced out imminently surfaced on social media on Monday afternoon. A couple of hours later, the defence ministry responded curtly: “Dear journalists, we immediately answer everyone: No, this is not true,” assuming that everybody reading understood what was being referred to.

It is not clear that the matter will end there. Goncharenko said Zelenskiy could dismiss Zaluzhnyi and replace him – a process that requires the support of the defence minister – after assessing the public and international reaction.

The most likely replacement would be Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, responsible for covert operations against Moscow. Budanov was touted earlier this year as a replacement for Oleksii Reznikov as defence minister, in another protracted dismissal saga that began with similar bouts of speculation.

It is not clear what an alternative military strategy would look like given Russia’s entrenched frontline positions, while Ukraine’s most urgent crisis is not the battlefield but persuading Congress to approve a $61bn military aid package that would secure a year or more’s weapons supply from the US.

Democrats on Tuesday accused Republicans of being on the brink of deliberately collapsing a deal linking aid to Ukraine to a tightening of immigration policy at the US’s southern border in order to help Donald Trump’s election campaign.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, urged European leaders to accelerate aid to Ukraine in a speech to Swedish military academy, saying the “costs … of a Russian victory are too high for all of us”. He warned: “There is no more security framework and architecture on our continent if there is a Russian victory.”

A Ukrainian counteroffensive that began in June has failed to break through Russian lines amid criticism the attack was spread across too many axes – but the real dispute between the president and his top general appear to be political.

The Ukrainian general is the most popular figure in the country other than the president and his high standing has irritated Zelenskiy’s office, particularly as the politician has been considering whether to hold fresh elections, currently suspended under martial law.

In a rare interview, Zaluzhnyi told the Economist at the beginning of November that he believed the war was at a stalemate and called for fresh help from the west, but a few days later Zelenskiy dismissed the downbeat assessment.

“Everyone gets tired, no matter their status. And we have different opinions. But it’s not a stalemate,” Zelenskiy said at the time, added that newly arriving western F-16 fighter jets could yet lead to a breakthrough in 2024.

Speculation has also swirled in Ukrainian media for months that Zaluzhnyi would be the only viable challenger to Zelenskiy for the presidency if fresh elections were to be called while the war continues and the general were to run.

Although Zaluzhnyi has never publicly said he would enter politics, informal Facebook posts showing photos of him with his wife were interpreted in Bankova – Ukraine’s equivalent of Downing Street – as a signal of intent.

In November, Zelenskiy warned generals against entering politics in an interview with the Sun. He said it would be a “huge mistake” if commanders “manage war keeping in mind that tomorrow you will do politics or elections”.

Addressing the military chief directly, he added: “With all the respect to Gen Zaluzhny and to all the commanders who are on the battlefield, there is an absolute understanding of the hierarchy,” in which the president was at the top.

In December, leaked polling seen by the Kyiv Independent suggested that Zaluzhnyi was Zelenskiy’s leading challenger and that the incumbent would only narrowly beat him, by two points in a runoff. At the time, the president’s office denied it had heard of the poll, although there were rumours it had been commissioned by them.

Orysia Lutsevych, a Ukraine expert with the Chatham House thinktank, said she believed the leaks about Zaluzhnyi’s dismissal were designed to test public opinion. “In view of Russia’s own attempts to destabilise Ukrainian unity from inside, this kind of attack on Zaluzhnyi plays into the enemy’s hands.”

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New US-made longer-range bomb expected to arrive as soon as Wednesday in Ukraine
The Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb doesn’t even exist in the U.S. inventory.

The Pentagon has successfully tested a new long-range precision bomb for Ukraine that is expected to arrive on the battlefield as soon as Wednesday, according to a U.S. official and three other people with knowledge of the talks.

Ukraine will receive its first batch of Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs, a brand new long-range weapon made by Boeing that even the U.S. doesn’t have in its inventory, according to the four people, all of whom were granted anonymity to discuss matters ahead of an announcement.

The new bomb, which can travel about 90 miles, is expected to be “a significant capability for Ukraine,” said the U.S. official.

“It gives them a deeper strike capability they haven’t had, it complements their long-range fire arsenal,” the U.S. official said. “It’s just an extra arrow in the quiver that’s gonna allow them to do more.”

An Army spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The weapon, co-developed by Boeing and Saab, is made up of a precision-guided 250-pound bomb strapped to a rocket motor and fired from various ground launchers. The U.S. military has a similar version of the bomb that is air-launched, but a ground-launched version does not yet exist in U.S. inventory.

The Pentagon announced last February that the Biden administration was providing the new bomb to Ukraine. But before sending the new version, the U.S. military needed to test the weapon — and that took many months.

The Army oversaw the testing of the new precision-guided bomb before providing its stamp of approval to send the weapon to Ukraine, according to an industry source.

The air-launched version was created in 2019, but despite successful tests, Boeing and Saab did not make a sale until the U.S. decided to donate it to Ukraine as part of an aid package.

The Biden administration has already provided Ukraine with a limited number of longer-range weapons. Last fall, officials secretly sent a version of the Army Tactical Missile System, which carries warheads containing hundreds of cluster bomblets that can hit targets 100 miles away.

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Op dinsdag 30 januari 2024 18:48 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Via een omweg worden Europese consumptiegoederen te duur, dan springt er een Russische producent in. Ook is handel door wisselkoersgekloot waar de yuan dan voor nodig is erg duur voor Russen.

Ze kunnen wel gewoon interen op hun fossiele brandstofreserves, die blijven ze wel gewoon verkopen maar daar worden ze wel erg van afhankelijk, voorlijke technologie gaan ze niet meer makkelijk ontwikkelen.

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China dragging its heels on Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline investment, price deal
"In terms of construction, [Beijing] wants to make sure that they have no risks and no costs. Russia is the side that foots the entire bill," the source stated.

The first deal to supply gas via the Power of Siberia 1 pipeline took about a decade to negotiate and the details of the price deal have never been made public.

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Russia’s planned gas pipeline to China faces construction delay 28-1-2024
Russia has been in talks to build a new pipeline to carry 50 billion cubic meters of gas a year from northern Russia to China via Mongolia, almost as much as the now-idle Nord Stream 1 pipeline under the Baltic Sea that was damaged in 2022.
China and Russia have yet to agree on key details of the mammoth project, he told the paper, adding that record global gas prices during the past two years had complicated talks.
Gazprom, which will operate Power of Siberia-2 has said it aims to start delivering gas by 2030. But agreement on key issues, including pricing remains elusive.

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Massive drone attack reported in Russia
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has reported a massive drone attack during the night of January 30.

Оccupiers claim that overnight, Russian air defense forces allegedly repelled a massive drone attack.

According to the Russian defense agency, they purportedly shot down 21 drones, including 11 over Crimea, 5 over the Belgorod region, 3 over the Bryansk region, and one each over the Kaluga and Tula regions.

The governor of the Kaluga region, Vladislav Shapsha, reported that debris from one of the drones fell onto the roof of a non-residential building on the outskirts of Kaluga.