Oorlog in Oekraïne #987:

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Toronto address listed shipping $80M of electronics for 'Russian war machine'
Semiconductors, electronics sourced from China and web of shell companies

^{The address of a Toronto house appears on 2023 trade data at least 1,400 times for a business seemingly supplying millions of dollars of microelectronics to Russia. (Patrick Morrell/CBC News)}

A Caribbean shell company has smuggled at least $80 million worth of electronics into Russia under the disguise of a Canadian address, according to leaked Russian trade filings obtained by CBC News.

The scheme appears to be part of a Kremlin initiative involving a covert web of multinational buyers and producers that source sanctioned technologies from Western countries, the majority of which come from Chinese stockpiles and manufacturers, to help produce weapons for Russia's war with Ukraine.

"My initial reaction was that this looked like a really egregious breach of [Canada's sanction regime]," said Jessica Davis, an Ottawa-based financial crimes expert who viewed the data and previously worked with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

"It seemed really surprising that somebody would be so blatant about facilitating these kinds of goods to Russia, particularly in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war."

Two separate sources, one from a government agency and the other an academic watchdog, provided the 2023 import data, which was then cross-referenced for its authenticity by two experts. CBC News has agreed to keep the sources confidential to protect against retribution from the Russian government.

Alburton Enterprises Inc. is one of the top Canadian entries in the trade filings and uses a suburban Toronto residence as the "supplier address" for more than 1,400 deals involving microelectronics and other computer components.

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The DIU has obtained more than 4000 images of Russian military facilities with the help of the “people’s satellite”

^{Satellite image of a Russian training ground. Source: The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine}

Ukrainian military intelligence has been detecting Russian military facilities using the ICEYE satellite for almost two years.

This satellite was purchased with donations from citizens.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported that the satellite allows data to be received both from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine and from other places on the planet where Russia’s military forces and assets are located.

The prompt receipt of intelligence data became possible thanks to the initiative of the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation and donations from Ukrainians to the “people’s Bayraktar,” which in 2022 was used to purchase a satellite at the request of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

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Russia may have formed new army to deploy in Ukraine – ISW
Russia may have formed another combined arms army for deployment in Ukraine.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Quote: "The Russian military is currently undergoing large-scale reforms, however, including the creation of new combined arms army level formations, and Ukrainian sources' references to a '51st Army' may constitute an early indicator that Russia has formed another combined arms army for deployment to Ukraine."

Details: Colonel Yurii Povkh, the spokesperson for the Kharkiv Operational Strategic Group, stated on 23 June that the Russian military plans to deploy elements of the "9th Motorised Rifle Brigade of the 51st Army" toward the Kharkiv area.

Povkh mentioned that Russian units have been moved from Kherson Oblast and other unspecified locations to reinforce the Kharkiv front.

Similarly, Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group, reported on 25 June that Russian forces aim to transfer elements of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet) and the "9th Motorised Rifle Brigade of the 51st Army" to Kharkiv to make up for significant Russian losses.

ISW recently noted reports that the Russian forces have transferred elements of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade and the 9th Motorised Rifle Brigade (1st Donetsk People's Republic Army Corps [DNR AC]) from areas west and southwest of the city of Donetsk to the Kharkiv front. However, there has been no reporting on the Russian "51st Army".

The statements from Ukrainian officials imply that the Russian forces might have subordinated the 9th Motorised Rifle Brigade to the potentially revived WWII-era "51st Army".

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Ukrainian paratroopers still holding positions in Paraskoviivka despite Russian claims
Paratroopers of the 79th Brigade continue to carry out combat missions in Paraskoviivka, which the Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have seized three weeks ago

The information from the Russians about the alleged capture of the village of Paraskoviivka, located between Kostiantynivka and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk Oblast, one of the hottest sections of the front, is not true. This was reported by Orest Drymalovskyi, a representative of the press service of the 79th Separate Tavrian Air Assault Brigade, during a television marathon.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces occupied Paraskoviivka on June 7.

Drymalovskyi stated that this is absolutely not true and that the Russian military department "traditionally lies."

"Our units are still in the village of Paraskoviivka, still holding these positions. The village is essentially destroyed, there is not a single intact building. The Russians are bombarding it intensively with shells, mines and aerial bombs. However, the paratroopers of the 79th Brigade are still in the village," said the representative of the brigade's press service.

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The Russians hung the flag of Ukraine on their house

On the territory of Russia, local residents independently hung a giant flag of Ukraine on their building.

The flag has been hanging there for several days already.

This is reported by the Ukrainian military monitoring groups on Telegram.

Also published a video, where you can see a large Ukrainian flag.

It is claimed that the video was filmed in the Belgorod region of Russia.

“Cringe of the day. In Russia, locals independently hung the flag of Ukraine on their houses so that the Ukrainians did not bomb them. The flag has been there for several days,” – signed under the published video.

The Ukrainian military reminded that Ukraine does not bomb the homes of civilians, unlike the Russian occupiers.

As previously reported, the Russian military managed to shoot down a missile right above the beach in the city of Simferopol in occupied Crimea during the attack.

At that time, there were many vacationers on the beach. After the missile fragments fell, there are dead and a lot of injured civilians.

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Serbia opposes restrictions on the sale of ammunition to third countries

^{Serbian mortar rounds of Krusik company. Photo credits: krusik.rs}

Serbian Prime Minister Milo¨ Vučević has called for the continuation of the sale of Serbian ammunition to third countries.

Milo¨ Vučević told Agence France-Presse that Serbia is not a party to the war in Ukraine, despite the use of Serbian shells in the war.

According to Vučević, the sale of Serbian shells “is not a contribution from Serbia to one of the warring parties.”

“I do not want to prevent companies from selling our ammunition to Spain, the Czech Republic, the United States… because it is not prohibited and it is not immoral for us to produce weapons and ammunition, which, unfortunately, are also used where there is a war,” the Serbian Prime Minister added.

Last weekend, it was reported that Serbia is increasing its sales of ammunition to third countries, which then send it to Ukraine.

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Slovakia increases production and repair of artillery shells for Ukrainian army
Slovakia has significantly increased the production and repair of artillery shells of the necessary calibers, announced President Peter Pellegrini

Slovakia is participating in supporting the Czech initiative to purchase artillery shells for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, President Peter Pellegrini stated during a visit to the Czech Republic, according to Pravda.

Pellegrini said that Bratislava supports Kyiv in ways not often discussed, such as supplying electricity to prevent the collapse of Ukraine's energy system.

The President of Slovakia also confirmed the country's participation in the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine.

"Thanks to our production capacities, we will make a significant contribution to the success of the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition," Pellegrini noted.

According to him, Slovakia has increased the production and repair of artillery shells of the necessary calibers.

"A significant portion of the ammunition collected by the Czech Republic will ultimately be refurbished and produced directly at Slovak factories," he said.

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BRICS to suspend admitting new members for a while — Lavrov
"By the overwhelming majority, the ten nations decided to ‘take a pause’ with new members to ‘take in’ the new members who have doubled the association," he said at a meeting with speaker of Belarus

MOSCOW, June 25. /TASS/. BRICS nations have decided to "take a pause’ in terms of admitting new members, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"By the overwhelming majority, the ten nations decided to ‘take a pause’ with new members to ‘take in’ the new members who have doubled the association," he said at a meeting with speaker of Belarus’ Council of the Republic, or upper house of parliament, Natalia Kochanova.

"At the same time, we are working of categories of partner countries as stages ahead of a full-fledged membership. We will support our Belarusian friends as a number of other like-minded nations," Lavrov, who is on an official visit to Minsk, said.

A meeting of the BRICS foreign ministers was held in Nizhny Novgorod on June 10 and 11. This was the first ministerial meeting following BRICS expansion in 2023 when Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE joined Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as full-fledged BRICS members. About 30 more countries are interested in cooperating with the association in this or that format.

Russia took over the BRICS’ year-long presidency on January 1, 2024. Russia’s presidency features more than 250 various events, with a BRICS summit in Kazan in October 2024 being the central one.

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Lithuania Commits 0.25% of GDP to Support Ukraine’s Defense

The Lithuanian government will allocate at least 0.25% of its GDP to support Ukraine’s security and defense.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda announced this.

It is reported that the decision was made following a meeting of the State Defense Council of Lithuania.

“Lithuania will continue to stand firmly with Ukraine until victory. We will always support freedom,” Nausėda said.

As previously reported, Lithuania transferred a batch of M113 APCs and related vehicles to Ukraine as part of its military assistance program.

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Armed Forces of Ukraine Receive Italian Puma APCs

^{Italian Puma armored personnel carrier with 6x6 wheel formula. Photo credits: Pakistan Defence}

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has authorized the use of Italian Puma armored personnel carriers in the army.

The defense ministry explained that the armored personnel carriers have undergone codification, which allows the purchase of these APCs for funds from the state budget.

No country has officially reported that the aid packages included Puma wheeled armored personnel carriers.

This armored personnel carrier is in service with the armed forces of Italy, Pakistan, Libya, and Djibouti.

Presumably, the batch of Puma APCs was included in one of the classified defense aid packages to Ukraine from the Italian government.

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Russia Upgrades Workshops for New Tu-160 Bomber Production

^{Four Tu-160M ​​strategic bombers on the territory of the Kazan Aviation Plant. Photo credits: Russian media}

The Russian United Aircraft Corporation has completed the modernization of three workshops for the production of new Tu-160 bombers.

This was reported by Defence News.

The modernized workshops will be used for the production of parts for the Tu-160M bomber, which will then be assembled at the Kazan Aviation Plant.

The work took place in the preparatory and production, mechanical assembly and flight test centers.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 21:36 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
[ x ]
Een beetje dramatisch natuurlijk. Maar de F-16 zal zeker een enorme aanwinst zijn, die met goed gebruik wel degelijk een belangrijk effect zou kunnen hebben in de oorlog.

En laat die Russen elkaar maar lekker bang maken. Dan gaan ze nog meer fouten maken. Al vraag ik mij af wat nu precies de bron is hiervan.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 21:44 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://mil.in.ua/en/news(...)0-bomber-production/
[..]

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Ik denk niet dat wij die deze oorlog nog in actie gaan zien komen.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 19:14 schreef BEFEM het volgende:

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Waarom en hoe zouden ze überhaupt overlopen? Die weten niet eens wat Oekraïne is.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 21:44 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://mil.in.ua/en/news(...)0-bomber-production/
[..]

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Ik denk niet dat wij die deze oorlog nog in actie gaan zien komen.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 21:47 schreef TwenteFC het volgende:

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F16 is oud, maar het platform heeft wel grote voordelen. Om een voorbeeld te noemen; de HARM raketten die ze gebruiken om radar installaties kapot te schieten die moeten nu op de grond geprogrammeerd worden waarna ze de raket onder een Mig knutselen.

F16's kunnen dat realtime, in de lucht door eigen radar, maar ook op data gevoerd door andere westerse systemen (via Link 16) of bijv de AWAC vliegtuigen die Zweden levert.

Alleen net zoals russische vliegtuigen allemaal neergaan wanneer ze in de buurt komen van de Oekrainse AA, zo gaan de F16's waarschijnlijk ook neer als ze onverwacht bij de Russische AA terecht komen.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 22:16 schreef Ulx het volgende:

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 22:19 schreef TwenteFC het volgende:

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Jep, maar specifiek dat is dus wat de F16 extra brengt. Voor zover ik weet was dat tot nu toe nog niet mogelijk met de sovjet vliegtuigen?

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 22:28 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
Dat klopt, daar kan het niet mee. Het is landen als Polen en Tsjechië ook niet gelukt.

Maar tegen de tijd dat de F16's er zijn hebben de Russen niet heel veel luchtafweer over. De ene na de andere S300/S400 installatie ging er de afgelopen weken aan.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 22:23 schreef BEFEM het volgende:

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Een blik op het moderne Rusland en Oekraïne?

Denk je dat ze eerst een schooluitje krijgen?

Die gaan gewoon ergens naar een trainingskamp, als ze geluk hebben, en dan linea recta naar het front.

En je ziet maar weinig ontsnappingsacties gebeuren. Waarom zou een Noord-Koreaan die letterlijk niks van de wereld kent, dan wel op grote schaal succesvol zijn?

Mochten zij mee gaan vechten, wat natuurlijk koffiedik kijken is, dan worden ze gewoon als kannonenvoer gebruikt. Lekker als eerste naar voren rennen met Russen achter je.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 22:23 schreef BEFEM het volgende:

[..]
Een blik op het moderne Rusland en Oekraïne?

Denk je dat ze eerst een schooluitje krijgen?

Die gaan gewoon ergens naar een trainingskamp, als ze geluk hebben, en dan linea recta naar het front.

En je ziet maar weinig ontsnappingsacties gebeuren. Waarom zou een Noord-Koreaan die letterlijk niks van de wereld kent, dan wel op grote schaal succesvol zijn?

Mochten zij mee gaan vechten, wat natuurlijk koffiedik kijken is, dan worden ze gewoon als kannonenvoer gebruikt. Lekker als eerste naar voren rennen met Russen achter je.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 22:34 schreef BEFEM het volgende:

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Hadden de Russen sowieso niet iets van 500 s300 installaties?

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 22:49 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
Ze halen nu al S300 en S400's weg uit het verre oosten en het noorden om in en rondom Oekraïne te worden neergezet. Ik denk dat er wel wat druk op staat. En ze zullen ook wel iets moeten laten staan om de rest van het land te kunnen verdedigen.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 22:34 schreef BEFEM het volgende:

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Hadden de Russen sowieso niet iets van 500 s300 installaties?

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 22:49 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
Ze halen nu al S300 en S400's weg uit het verre oosten en het noorden om in en rondom Oekraïne te worden neergezet. Ik denk dat er wel wat druk op staat. En ze zullen ook wel iets moeten laten staan om de rest van het land te kunnen verdedigen.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 23:02 schreef ExTec het volgende:

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Ze zullen heel veel launchers hebben. Maar de 2 radar installaties, en de commando posten, ik denk niet dat ze er daar 500 van hebben.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 23:06 schreef oheng het volgende:

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Als je alleen al kijktnaar de S-400, rusland had iets van 57 batterijen met ieder 8 lanceerders. In totaal 465 lanceerders.

Daar zijn nu meer dan 17 van vernietigd.

Ik denk niet dat rusland ooit zonder S-400's komt te zitten. Maar, ze alleen onderdrukken kan al genoeg wezen.
Het lijkt me niet dat een F-16 ooit boven vijandelijk gebied zal kunnen vliegen.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 23:20 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
Maar zijn die gebouwd of bestaan ze vooral op papier?

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NASA Satellites Reveal Fire at Russia's Drone Launch Site in Occupied Crimea

^{Fire near Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea, June 25, 2024. (Source: Radio Svoboda)}

According to satellite monitoring data, on June 25, a fire broke out in the area of ​​Cape Chauda in Crimea annexed by Russia, where the military training ground of the Russian army is located and from where Russian troops launch Shahed-136/131 type drones over Ukraine.

Radio Svoboda reported this on Wednesday, June 26, with reference to satellite images published on the NASA fire monitoring website.

^{Satellite image confirming fire in Cape Chauda area, June 25, 2024. (Source: Radio Svoboda)}

The fire occurred approximately on the southeastern shore of the Feodosia Bay. What caused the fire is unknown, there have been no reports of missile or drone attacks on this area of ​​Crimea in recent days.

In the late 1980s, the military training area on the cape was closed, but in 2016, the Russian Federation resumed its work. The Russian Air and Space Forces conducted air shows and training here in 2019.

In the period from November 1, 2022, to May 30, 2023, residents of the occupied peninsula were prohibited from entering the territory of the cape. The Russian mass media reported measures being taken to carry out test works.

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Op donderdag 27 juni 2024 08:13 schreef BEFEM het volgende:

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Idd. Luve (duimpje van achja) zullen ze altijd genoeg hebben. Daar is heel hun doctrine op bedacht.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 23:20 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
Maar zijn die gebouwd of bestaan ze vooral op papier?

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Op donderdag 27 juni 2024 08:13 schreef BEFEM het volgende:

[..]
Idd. Luve (duimpje van achja) zullen ze altijd genoeg hebben. Daar is heel hun doctrine op bedacht.

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Op donderdag 27 juni 2024 10:48 schreef StateOfMind het volgende:

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Pas bij luverd geeft ie een duim

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Op donderdag 27 juni 2024 11:54 schreef oheng het volgende:
Hamas komt ook weer op bezoek in rusland.

Lekkere vrienden: Iran, Taliban, Noord Korea, Hamas...

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Op donderdag 27 juni 2024 11:54 schreef oheng het volgende:
Hamas komt ook weer op bezoek in rusland.

Lekkere vrienden: Iran, Taliban, Noord Korea, Hamas...

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Op donderdag 27 juni 2024 12:09 schreef Hyperdude het volgende:

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Lijkt wel een Axis of Evil.

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Op donderdag 27 juni 2024 12:02 schreef Straatcommando. het volgende:

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Maar westelijke landen zijn de oorlogshitsers.

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Op donderdag 27 juni 2024 12:45 schreef oheng het volgende:

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Ik vergat de Houthi's.

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Op donderdag 27 juni 2024 11:54 schreef oheng het volgende:
Hamas komt ook weer op bezoek in rusland.

Lekkere vrienden: Iran, Taliban, Noord Korea, Hamas...

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Op donderdag 27 juni 2024 13:09 schreef spicymchaggis het volgende:

[..]
Het vriendenclubje van misdadige barbarenvolkeren, oftewel "de as van het kwaad".

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Ukraine shoots down five enemy missiles, 23 UAVs overnight
On the night of June 27, Russians launched a missile and air strike against Ukraine, using air- and sea-launched missiles and Shahed-type attack drones. The Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 5 missiles and 23 drones.

According to Ukrinform, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported this on Telegram.

According to him, the enemy launched six missiles of various types and 23 attack UAVs:
- 1 Kh-47 M2 Kinzhal missile (from the airspace of Russia’s Tambov region);
- 4 Kalibr cruise missiles (from the northeastern part of the Black Sea);
- 1 Kh-59/Kh-69 guided missile (from the airspace of Russia’s Kursk region);
- 23 Shahed-131/136 attack UAVs (from Russia’s Primorsko-Akhtarsk).

Fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force, mobile fire groups and EW units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces were involved in the combat operations.

28 enemy aerial targets were shot down:
- 4 Kalibr cruise missiles;
- 1 Kh-59/Kh-69 guided missile;
- 23 Shahed-131/136 attack UAVs.

As reported, since January 1, 2024, the Russian invaders have launched 2,277 Shahed-type attack drones against Ukraine. The air defense forces destroyed about 86% of them – 1,953 UAVs.

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Drones attacked a fuel plant in the Russian Federation

^{Ukrainian Lyutyi attack drone}

Drones attacked a Russian aviation fuel plant in the Tver region several times during the night.

The Baza Telegram channel reported on this.

A plant in Redkino, Tver region, was attacked twice by attack drones.

According to eyewitnesses, the first attack on the plant took place at around 2 a.m. Three unmanned aerial vehicles struck the facility.

One of the drones landed on the roof of workshop No. 4 and exploded. The second one was shot down by air defense forces and also fell near the shop. It exploded a few minutes later. The third drone attacked flammable liquid tanks on the plant’s premises, damaging a pipeline and starting a fire.

Two hours later, around 4 a.m., the plant was attacked by another UAV. The drone also came down near workshop No. 4.

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Op woensdag 26 juni 2024 21:47 schreef TwenteFC het volgende:

[..]
F16 is oud, maar het platform heeft wel grote voordelen. Om een voorbeeld te noemen; de HARM raketten die ze gebruiken om radar installaties kapot te schieten die moeten nu op de grond geprogrammeerd worden waarna ze de raket onder een Mig knutselen.

F16's kunnen dat realtime, in de lucht door eigen radar, maar ook op data gevoerd door andere westerse systemen (via Link 16) of bijv de AWAC vliegtuigen die Zweden levert.

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The F-16CJ/DJ Block 50D/52D have the HARM avionics/Launcher Interface Computer (ALIC) resulting in a full autonomous employment capability of the HARM missile. This capability adds the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) mission to the already extensive list of missions the F-16 is capable to perform.

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Alleen net zoals russische vliegtuigen allemaal neergaan wanneer ze in de buurt komen van de Oekrainse AA, zo gaan de F16's waarschijnlijk ook neer als ze onverwacht bij de Russische AA terecht komen.

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Poland Launches ‘Holidays With the Army’ Program to Boost Recruitment
Poland has launched an initiative to boost its military recruitment campaign in the face of increasing threats in the region.

Dubbed “Holidays With the Army,” the program involves providing basic military training to Polish citizens aged 18 to 35 over 28 days.

Many of the participants are recent high school graduates who are eligible to enlist.

Despite the program’s name, participants are far from being given a holiday as they have to wake up early and learn combat and survival skills.

During free time, trainees are required to clean their quarters and are prohibited from leaving the base.

Those who complete the basic military training will reportedly receive 6,000 zlotys ($1,491).

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Over 10,000 newly naturalised Russian citizens sent to ‘dig trenches’ in Ukraine
The head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, told the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum on Thursday that up to 10,000 recently naturalised Russian citizens had been sent to serve in Ukraine.

Under Russian law, any successful male applicant for Russian citizenship must register for military service and join the “special military operation” in Ukraine “if required”, Bastrykin said, adding that the Russian authorities had “caught” over 30,000 who hadn’t done so, about 10,000 of whom had joined the ranks of “rear units” to “dig trenches and build fortifications”.

After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia adopted laws that simplified the process for obtaining Russian citizenship, making it easier for immigrants, among them citizens of Central Asian states, to apply for residence permits and Russian passports, which led to an increase in migrants arriving in Russia despite the ongoing war.

Over 117,000 Central Asian migrants crossed the Russian border in 2023, more than twice as high as the figure for 2022, according to a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) report quoted by state-affiliated daily Vedomosti in May.

The Russian authorities have been carrying out raids on migrant neighbourhoods to boost their troop numbers in Ukraine, targeting both naturalised citizens who hadn’t contacted the military recruitment office and illegal migrants, who were promised a Russian passport if they agreed to serve in the military, and threatened with deportation if they refused.

Citizens of Central Asian states have been moving to Russia for work since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and currently number up to 7 million, according to Vedomosti, though their real number may be far higher due to widespread illegal immigration.

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Why arrival of F-16s won't rapidly change Ukraine's fortunes in war with Russia

KYIV, June 27 (Reuters) - Around two years after Ukraine started asking allies for F-16 fighter jets to help it fight Russian forces, the first planes are set to arrive by next month.

The length of the process, from procuring the U.S.-designed aircraft and training Ukrainian pilots to fly them, has frustrated Kyiv.

Russia has had time to prepare defences to try to nullify the F-16s' impact, and Ukraine has had to survive with a depleted air force a fraction of the size and sophistication of the enemy's.

Here are some facts about how the F-16s may help Ukraine and what obstacles still lie in the way of effective deployment:

POTENTIAL IMPACT

Some analysts say the F-16s will not alone prove a turning point in the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

"You'd have to separate symbolism from the actual impact on the battlefield - which will be useful but modest, particularly in the beginning," said Mark Cancian, senior adviser with the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, a non-governmental research group, said at least 60 planes would be needed for significant operations as Ukraine attempts to push Russian aviation back from its borders.

Lawmaker Oleksandra Ustinova, who leads Kyiv's parliamentary commission on arms and munitions, said that Ukraine would need nearer to 120 F-16s to boost its air capability significantly.

While the pilots gain experience in Ukrainian skies and the military builds out its air infrastructure, the initial deliveries could at least help Ukraine strengthen its air shield, experts say.

"It will provide some air defence and depth capacity, potentially also help intercepting Shaheds [Iranian-built drones] and cruise missiles. Although it is a very expensive way of doing that, munitions-wise," said Justin Bronk, senior research fellow for airpower and technology at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

Ukraine's military has worked hard to reduce the threat to the arriving F-16s in recent months by attacking Russian air defences, according to Kuzan.

"The formation of the battlefield, especially in the south, is already taking place," he said. "Ukraine has the capabilities to systematically strike Russia's foremost air defence complexes."

But Cancian of CSIS said he expected Ukraine to try to open gaps in Russia's defences in the immediate run-up to planned F-16 attacks rather than a long time in advance.

PILOTS AND MAINTENANCE

Training will be crucial.

"You can have lots of fast jets but if they don't have effective weapons, and air crew able to employ them with effective tactics, then they will just be shot down in large numbers," said Bronk.

The timeline for the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s has dominated discussions about deliveries and pledges of more than 70 jets.

By the end of 2024, Ukraine expects to have at least 20 pilots ready to fly F-16s, Ustinova said.

"It is difficult to solicit more planes when you don't have people to pilot them," she said, adding that, at first, Ukraine will have more F-16s than qualified pilots.

"Waiting in line for 10 years before our pilots are trained is not OK."

The Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson declined to comment.

U.S. officials have directed questions on training to Ukraine and noted that pilots can also be trained in Europe. However, Bronk said NATO's capacity was already stretched.

He added that aircraft maintenance was an even more pressing challenge than pilot training.

He said most repairs and maintenance would need to happen inside Ukraine, and it would probably have to rely on foreign contractors who know the aircraft.

AIR BASES UNDER THREAT

Russia has already intensified its attacks on infrastructure that could be used for the maintenance and deployment of F-16s, some experts said.

"Russia is striking all airfields, potential F-16 bases, every day, including attempts to damage airstrips and infrastructure. These strikes have not paused for the last two months, at least," Kuzan said.

The targets will become all the more valuable when the aircraft, pilots and maintenance teams arrive. This is likely to force Ukraine to install missile defences to protect them, even though it is short of both air defence systems and ammunition.

"We have to accept the fact that the airfields will be well-protected when civilian objects could be under attack," Kuzan said, adding that each base would need at least two Patriot and two NASAMS batteries to secure it.

"As soon as we (build up our flight capabilities), we will push their planes back and the terror will stop. But these couple of months will be truly difficult," Kuzan added.

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Russia Loses Last Black Sea Missile Ship – Putin Demands Better Protection
Putin urges increased protection for the fleet against long-range missiles, after Ukraine eliminates another missile ship in Sevastopol, forcing Moscow to move the fleet to mainland Russia.

Russia's Navy needs to be protected from long-range missile attacks as soon as possible, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting discussing shipbuilding on Wednesday, June 26.

"It is necessary to protect our fleet from possible attacks already on the far outskirts of naval bases and areas of operation of our ships," he said.

Last month, Ukraine's Armed Forces destroyed a Russian Black Sea Fleet small missile ship, the Cyclone, during an attack on the occupied port of Sevastopol. According to Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk, the 22800 Karakut class vessel was the last Kalibr equipped Russian missile carrier on the Crimean Peninsula, as the rest had already been transferred to Novorossiysk due to the Ukrainian attacks.

Putin noted that to increase the combat stability of the Black Sea fleet, "special attention should be paid to the speedy introduction of remote threat detection systems, including those from unmanned vehicles."

He also said that the fleet is being replenished with new ships, equipped with modern weapons, and that domestic shipbuilders will hand over more than 40 vessels to the Defense Ministry this year.

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Ukrainian pilots launch AASM bombs from ultra-low altitudes

^{The Ukrainian MiG-29 launches AASM-250 bombs}

A Ukrainian MiG-29 launched French AASM-250 bombs at the ultra-low altitude in the Belgorod region.

The Ukrainian military published the footage of the combat operation.

The pilot of the Ukrainian fighter jet performed a complex dive-bombing maneuver with two bombs at an extremely low altitude to avoid being hit by Russian anti-aircraft missiles near the front line.

He managed to launch the bombs from such a low altitude due to a sharp maneuver and a feature of the French AASM adjusted aerial bomb equipped with a solid rocket booster.

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Op donderdag 27 juni 2024 20:28 schreef Cilantro het volgende:
[ x ]

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Russia mulling downgrading ties with West, Kremlin says
Russia is considering a possible downgrading of relations with the West due to the deeper involvement of the United States and its allies in the Ukraine war, but no decision had yet been taken, the Kremlin said on Thursday.

A downgrading of relations - or even breaking them off - would illustrate the gravity of the confrontation between Russia and the West over Ukraine after an escalation in tensions over the war in recent months.

Even during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when the Cold War is thought to have come closest to nuclear war, Russia did not sever relations with the United States, though Moscow did break off ties with Israel over the 1967 Middle East war.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Izvestia newspaper that ambassadors fulfilled a difficult but important job that allowed a channel of communication to operate in troubled times.

But Ryabkov also said that a possible downgrading of ties with the West was being studied.

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Ukraine and EU Have Signed a Historic Bilateral Security Agreement. Here’s What it Includes

On June 27, Ukraine and the European Union signed a security agreement on the sidelines of the EU Summit. The agreement was signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to Brussels.

The agreement covers the supply of arms to Ukraine, military training, defense industry cooperation, and demining.

Security agreements were also signed with Lithuania and Estonia.

The text of the document contained two main sections on security guarantees, each with nine points, including:
• ¤50 billion will be allocated for the next 4 years within the framework of the Ukraine Facility program; funds to reimburse EU countries for weapons provided to Ukraine from the European Peace Fund; ¤5 billion for weapons from the Fund for Aid to Ukraine, and profits from frozen Russian assets.
• the long-term supply of military equipment, military training, defense reform, cooperation between the defense industries of Ukraine and the EU, cybersecurity, and intelligence exchange.
• the “future of Ukraine and its citizens in the European Union,” demining and reconstruction, continued support for refugees, preservation and strengthening of anti-Russian sanctions, and the creation of a special tribunal for the Russian political elite.
• an action plan in the event of possible future aggression, including urgent consultations to take place within a day.

For the first time, this agreement will guarantee the commitment of all 27 member states to provide Ukraine with broad support despite any internal institutional changes.

Earlier, Zelenskyy announced that three security agreements were planned to be signed in Brussels, one of which is with the European Union.

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The Russian fleet is demonstrating the least activity in Novorossiysk

^{Landing boat D-199 in Novorossiysk. 27.07.2014. Photo credits: forums.airbase.ru}

The Russian naval base Novorossiysk has currently the least activity of surface ships over the entire period of observation.

The satellite images were published by the user on the social network X.

The image captures the smallest number of surface ships at the Novorossiysk Naval Base: one Project 775 landing ship, one Ivan Gren-class landing ship, and two Sivuch class gunboats.

Small missile ships, as well as some landing ships, were moved to the Sea of Azov to disguise them from Ukrainian naval drones.

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Russian official calls for complete destruction of Ukraine until 'there is nothing left'
A Russian official currently in charge of the occupied Zaporizhzhia region says it's time to "burn everything Ukrainian down to the root" until "there is no trace left".

Dmitry Rogozin, who was previously head of Russia's space agency, posted on his Telegram channel that there could be "no truce" with Ukraine as it would mean "certain death for our children and grandchildren".

"This time we need to burn everything Ukrainian down to the root," he said.

"Together with their bastard literature, delusional history, cannibalism of the 'ancient Ukrainians', passion for fascist 'aesthetics' and servility towards the West.

"Burn it so that there is no spirit left. No truces. Any truce, let alone reconciliation, is certain death for our children and grandchildren."

The comments come as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted three resolutions relating to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Among them is recognition of Russia's intent in destroying Ukraine's cultural heritage and identity.