Oorlog in Oekra�ne #996: Trump de vredesduif

quote:

Explosions heard near oil depot in Tuapse, Russia
In the Russian city of Tuapse, approximately five explosions were heard early on July 22. The blasts reportedly originated from the local oil depot, according to Russian Telegram channels.

According to preliminary information from the Shot channel, the city’s air defense system was activated, and the drones may have targeted the local oil refinery.

Residents told the channel that the explosions from the oil depot started around 3:30 AM, with about five loud bangs heard. Before this, witnesses reported characteristic sounds of drone flights.

No official information is available at this time.

TASS Telegram channel, citing the head of the Tuapse district, reports that the air defense system reportedly struck eight drones in the Tuapse area of Krasnodar Krai, with no casualties reported.

On the morning of July 20, explosions were heard in the Rostov region near the Millerovo military airfield, and fires broke out as a result of a drone attack in the region. An oil depot was also hit.

Satellite images revealed damage to facilities at least at three locations on the airfield.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Ukraine’s border guards thwart attempt to smuggle out batch of collectible coins

At the Krakivets checkpoint on the border with Poland, a collection of valuable coins, some dating back to the 18th century, was found in a bag of what a minibus driver heading to Czechia claimed was children’s clothes.
That’s according to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

The report says the oldest coin in the batch was minted in 1748.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Berlin’s Russian House Faces Scrutiny as Alleged Hub for Espionage and Propaganda
The Russian House in Berlin, located on Friedrichstrasse, has come under scrutiny amidst allegations of being a covert hub for espionage and propaganda, rather than merely a cultural center for Russian expatriates. Roderich Kiesewetter of Germany’s CDU party has labeled it an extension of Kremlin influence, citing concerns of it potentially circumventing EU sanctions and serving as a nexus for Russian intelligence activities.

Operated by Rossotrudnichestvo, an agency known for its ties to Russian expatriates and alleged agents, the Russian House offers amenities such as a Russian-language bookshop and a cinema screening Soviet-era comedies. Despite claims of being apolitical, the center has faced controversy, notably screening a film in 2022 that aligned with Vladimir Putin’s narrative on Ukraine, leading to accusations of spreading Kremlin propaganda.

While some European countries have closed similar Russian cultural centers, Germany has hesitated due to fears of reciprocal actions affecting institutions like the Goethe Institute in Moscow. The German government has sanctioned Rossotrudnichestvo, freezing its assets in the EU since July 2022, yet critics argue that more decisive action is needed.

German intelligence officials have highlighted the country’s susceptibility to Russian espionage, citing recent incidents of sabotage plots and espionage attempts linked to Russian interests.

The debate surrounding the Russian House reflects broader concerns over the intersection of cultural diplomacy and geopolitical strategy, raising questions about the balance between cultural exchange and national security in Europe’s political landscape.

quote:

Patriot from Germany arrives in Ukraine – Zelenskyy
Obtaining the system is "far from guaranteed protection, but more power for Ukraine," the president noted

The Patriot air defense system from Germany has arrived in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in his evening address.

The head of state heard a report of the commander of the Air Force, Mykola Oleschuk: on the work of mobile fire groups in shooting down Shahed drones and on countering Russian missiles.

"We can already say: there is a strengthening of our air defense. The German Patriot has arrived in Ukraine, I want to thank Germany and the United States for this step. We will be able to do more in the sky," Zelenskyy said.

The head of state admitted that there is still a lot of work ahead, and receiving Patriot is "far from guaranteed protection, but more power for Ukraine."

On June 11, the Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Germany will deliver the third Patriot to the Ukrainian Defense Forces "in the coming weeks and months."

On July 5 , the German ambassador announced that Ukraine received the third Patriot from Germany.

On July 10, the US president announced that the state would provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot, and European allies would strengthen Ukrainian air defense with four more systems.

quote:

Russia gathering forces in Kharkiv Oblast for fresh attacks, military says
Russia has deployed additional assault units near the village of Hlyboke in Kharkiv Oblast to prepare for offensive operations, Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson of the Khortytsia group of forces, told Interfax Ukraine on July 21.

The village of Hlyboke is located in the north of the Kharkiv Oblast, 7 kilometers (4.6 miles) from the border with Russia and 39 kilometers (24 miles) from the regional center, the city of Kharkiv.

Russia launched its offensive in Kharkiv Oblast on May 10, but the assault quickly stalled. Around 20,000 Russian troops were killed during the failed push in the northeastern region, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Russia is currently massing new troops near the village of Hlyboke, including assault groups of the 155th Separate Marine Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet and the 18th Motorized Rifle Division of the 11th Army Corps, according to Voloshyn.

Russian troops use drones for remote mining of the area, the spokesperson added.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Russia systemically abuses its soldiers in Ukraine to 'maintain order,' The Insider reports
Russia uses a systematic program of "gulag-style" abuse directed at its soldiers in Ukraine in order to "maintain order" and punish perceived offenders, according to an investigation by the Insider published on July 22.

The abuse of Russian soldiers by their commanders and fellow troops since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine has been previously documented. Problems with military hazing and mistreatment of subordinates by their superiors date back to the Soviet era and were also widely reported in Russia's wars in Chechnya.

According to the Insider, the patterns of abuse of Russian soldiers in Ukraine "borrow heavily from Soviet labor camp traditions."

Russian units have employed "punishment squads" that seek out soldiers who are abusing alcohol, refuse orders, or are simply disliked, and then subject them to a variety of abuse, including beatings and "confinement pits."

One of the issues, the Insider found, is that typical verbal reprimands often work to discipline regular soldiers but not the tens of thousands of convicts who have been recruited to fill the gaps created by massive personnel losses.

"(Former) inmates are impossible to control," one officer told the Insider.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to Visit China
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, will visit China from July 23 to 25 at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Wang Yi.

This was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.

"During meetings and negotiations, the parties will exchange views on the current state and prospects of bilateral relations. The main topic of discussion will be finding ways to end Russian aggression and exploring China's potential role in achieving sustainable and just peace," the foreign policy department stated.

In February 2024, Kuleba met with Wang Yi to discuss bilateral relations and trade, and briefed him on the Summit on Peace for Ukraine in Switzerland. "No matter how the international situation changes, China hopes that China-Ukraine relations will develop normally and continue to benefit the two peoples. We will continue to play a constructive role in bringing an early end to the war and re-establishing peace,” Wang Yi said.

China did not participate in the Summit on Peace for Ukraine.

quote:

Georgia puts 300 members of the Georgian Legion on the wanted list

^{Soldiers of the Georgian National Legion}

The special services of Georgia, following the Russian authorities, put Georgian volunteers who fought on the side of Ukraine on the wanted list.

Mamuka Mamulashvili, a commander of the Georgian National Legion fighting for Ukraine, told The Insider.

According to him, about 300 people from the combat unit he led were put on the wanted list in Georgia. Most of them are now in Ukraine.

“I foresaw this development after Russia started putting us on the wanted list. This was done so that the Georgian government would have grounds to arrest us. Russian and Georgian Special Services are working in sync today. Many of our guys who were returning to Georgia were advised by the Georgian special services to leave. They were told: “There are a lot of Russians here, we will not be able to protect you anymore, we ask you to leave,” Mamulashvili says.

In June, a Russian court recognized the Georgian Legion as a terrorist organization. Russia’s Investigative Committee brought more than 70 members of the Legion to justice in absentia and put Mamuka Mamulashvili on the wanted list.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Neutral Russian athletes accused of breaching rules on Ukraine war ahead of Paris Olympics
A report from a human rights group claims Russian and Belarusian athletes have broken strict Ukraine War-related rules regarding their neutral appearance at the Olympics

Russian and Belarusian athletes will continue to be banned from representing their countries at the Paris 2024 Olympics due to the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but some will be allowed to continue under a neutral banner.

However, those given the exemption are under strict conditions, which a human rights group claims they have breached. Athletes were first banned for the 2022 Commonwealth Games due to the invasion, and that ban is still in place for this summer's Games.

Those wishing to still compete must do so under a neutral flag, and cannot show any support for Vladimir Putin's invasion or offer pro-Russia views on the Ukraine war. However, according to human rights group Global Rights Compliance, ten out of the 15 Russian athletes have broken those rules.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

https://newsukraine.rbc.u(...)s-of-1721630568.html
Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of July 22
Over the past day, July 21, 117 combat engagements were registered in the frontline. Nearly Russian 40 offensive and assault attacks were repelled in the Pokrovsk sector, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Over the past day, 117 combat engagements were recorded.

“Yesterday, the aviation, missile forces, and artillery of the Ukrainian Defense Forces hit a Russian control center, an ammunition depot, four artillery systems, two air defense systems, a radar station, and 15 areas of concentration of Russian personnel and military equipment,” Ukraine's General Staff writes.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

OPFOR Battalion defeats Russian armored group in the Donetsk region

^{Destruction of Russian armored vehicles in the Donetsk region. July, 2024. Footage from the OPFOR Battalion video}

In the Donetsk region, Ukrainian soldiers defeated a Russian armored group that was trying to break through the defense in the Kurakhove sector.

The video of the destruction of the invaders was published by the press service of the 214th ‘OPFOR’ Separate Special Battalion.

The Russian command sent several armored vehicles with infantry to break through the Ukrainian defense near the village of Kostiantynivka.

The movement of the Russian armored group along a field road was detected by Ukrainian reconnaissance drones.

Then Ukrainian gunners of the 31st Brigade’s self-propelled artillery battalion began to fire at the enemy column.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Anti-war candidates barred from running in St. Petersburg local elections
All 83 candidates from Yabloko, the only registered party in Russia openly opposed to the war, were barred from running in the St. Petersburg municipal elections, independent news outlet Bumaga reported on Monday.

Yabloko’s spokesman Dmitry Anisimov told journalists that the party would appeal the authorities’ decision in court. Bumaga reported last week that Yabloko candidates had received rejection notices as the party had failed to give them their official endorsement, which its officials said was not true.

A number of candidates from pro-war parties have also been barred from running. A source from Russia’s Communist Party told Bumaga that 244 out of its 427 candidates were blocked from registering in the elections. The Communist Party believes an additional 50 candidates will be denied registration, though a decision has not yet been made.

Other candidates said they had failed to submit their documents in time because of overly long lines at the election committee office, which the nationalist political group Society.Future claimed were full of “fake candidates”.

Opposition candidates running in Russian elections are often forced to drop out, barred from running or face imprisonment. Yabloko, founded in 1993 and currently campaigning under the slogan “For Peace and Freedom”, is a registered liberal political party that hasn’t been represented in the lower house of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, since 2007 and only has 11 seats in regional parliaments as of 2024.

St. Petersburg residents are due to go to the polls on 6–8 September to elect the city’s next governor and municipal deputies. The election campaign has been marred by controversy, with an 82-year-old anti-war candidate being forced to drop out of the race earlier in July after failing to collect 76,000 signatures required to register her candidacy — an election rule that her supporters said was “drawn up in such a way as to not allow a single independent candidate”.

quote:

Mysterious Russia-Linked Companies Purchase Dozens of Vessels for Russia’s "Shadow Fleet"
Over the past year, little-known companies have bought dozens of vessels capable of transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), probably for the Russian "shadow fleet", the Financial Times writes.

Industry insiders in the shipping sector report that a group of newly emerged companies, predominantly registered in the United Arab Emirates, have been buying LNG vessels during the last year. This surge in acquisitions has notably increased market prices, particularly affecting the value of older ships.

Kpler, an analytical firm that tracks shipping, has observed that several of the recently acquired tankers are now operating on routes traditionally used for transporting Russian gas.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, LNG has become increasingly vital to Russia's wartime economy. In June, the EU enacted restrictions banning the transfer of Russian LNG from large icebreaking ships to smaller vessels at EU ports. This move substantially restricts Russia's ability to distribute its gas worldwide.

Sergey Vakulenko, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, emphasized that it was a clear strategic move for Russia to expand its LNG dark fleets, especially under increasing pressure on Russian LNG.

In July 2024, the UK imposed sanctions on 11 oil tankers involved in aiding Russia's export of supplies to customers, including some linked to the “shadow fleet”.

quote:

A rare Russian “Zemledeliye” complex has been destroyed

The Ukrainian military has destroyed a Russian engineering system for remote mining.

An artillery reconnaissance unit has discovered a rare Russian “Zemledeliye” complex.

“Zemledelie” is designed to promptly create minefields at a distance of 5 to 15 km.

The system fires rockets that ensure that mines are placed in a specified area.

The system completes minefields of any complexity, including ready-made passages for its troops.

With one salvo, this installation can replace an area equal to several soccer fields.

Thanks to Ukrainian defenders, the system went up in flames along with its ammunition and crew.

quote:

Ukrainian cadets start practice on the ORP Wodnik ship of the Polish Navy

^{Polish training vessel ORP Wodnik (251). Photo credits: Armed Forces of Poland}

The cadets of the National University “Odesa Maritime Academy” have started an internship on the training vessel ORP Wodnik of the Polish Navy.

The press service of the university reported on this.

Ukrainians undergo maritime practice together with their Polish colleagues.

During the internship, they learn navigation, astronavigation, hydrometeorology and maneuvering skills, and get acquainted with the organization of the ship’s service.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

US Deploys Nuclear Bombers Near Ukrainian Border

^{A KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, refuels a B-52H Stratofortress from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. (Source: US Air Forces)}

The United States has deployed two B-52 Stratofortress intercontinental strategic bombers to the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Force Base in Romania, bordering with Ukraine. This transfer was announced by the US Air Force in Europe.

The American aircraft will operate as part of the 20th Expeditionary Bombing Squadron of the US Air Force and will begin integrating with NATO forces.

During a flight in international airspace over the Barents Sea, the B-52s were intercepted by two Russian aircraft at around 8 a.m. Central European Time, on July 21. Despite the interception, the US aircraft maintained their course and continued their scheduled flight plan without incident. The bombers completed their pre-planned mission, which included coordination with NATO fighter aircraft, before landing at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Bulgaria may transfer its surplus ammunition to Ukraine
Bulgaria may transfer its surplus of ammunition and other military equipment to Ukraine if these supplies are compensated by allied countries.

Source: Acting Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov, as reported by European Pravda citing Bulgarian news agency BNR

Details: Zapryanov said that the analysis of the Bulgarian Defence Ministry revealed what is surplus and unnecessary for the Bulgarian army.

"Part of these supplies – part of ammunition of certain types – can be provided to Ukraine. This package will also be linked to an agreement with an ally country on compensation, similar to the previous package we sent," he added.

Zapryanov noted that the Bulgarian government still has to make a decision on military assistance for Ukraine, then coordinate it with its allies and Kyiv, and provide logistics.

As of now, two packages of Bulgarian military assistance to Ukraine are publicly known, approved in late 2022 and June 2023. In addition, Bulgaria has unofficially supplied Kyiv with more than a billion dollars worth of ammunition and weapons.

Recently, Bulgaria was reported to be considering providing Ukraine with �80 million worth of military assistance, if the parliament agrees.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Since the start of the war, more than 50 activists and oppositionists have been sent for forced psychiatric treatment
Russian courts have sentenced 53 activists and opposition figures to forced psychiatric treatment during the war in Ukraine, according to calculations by the publication 7x7.

Historian Alexei Makarov, a member of the board of the human rights center Memorial, told the publication that in modern Russia, sending people for forced psychiatric treatment is not as widespread as in the USSR, but nevertheless, society does not have access to medical documents that could be used to determine how real a diagnosis is.

"We have few mechanisms to control what happens in psychiatric hospitals. There is a monopoly of the Serbsky Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, and nothing prevents the state and psychiatrists from expanding those practices and using them more crudely," Makarov explained.

He added that forensic psychiatry could very well return to the USSR levels if there is a “direct political order” for this.

Clinical psychologist and executive director of the Independent Psychiatric Association of Russia Lyubov Vinogradova agrees with him. According to her, since the early 2000s, psychiatry in Russia has been “becoming increasingly inhumane.”

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Azerbaijan confirms the possibility of supplying its gas to Europe via Ukraine
Ukraine and the EU have asked Azerbaijan to supply natural gas to Europe via Ukraine after the expiration of the current contract with Russia at the end of the year, Babel informs.

This was stated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

According to Aliyev, negotiations with Ukraine, the EU, and Russia are still ongoing, but all parties are interested in continuing cooperation.

Bloomberg reports that earlier this month, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is negotiating to supply natural gas to Europe from Azerbaijan. Ukraine wants to maintain its role as a transit country, but no longer wants to be a transit country for gas supplies to the EU from Russia.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union tried to cut off Russian gas, but some European countries continue to receive it through a pipeline that runs through Ukraine.

At the same time, Aliyev warned that if Russian gas supplies through Ukraine are cut off, states such as Austria and Slovakia could face serious difficulties, as they would have to spend much more money to buy gas from other countries. In addition, he said, Azerbaijan will try to “be careful” because in the past the country has been falsely accused of reselling Russian gas.

Aliyev also said that gas production in his country would increase due to new and existing fields in the Caspian Sea.

In 2022, Azerbaijan signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Commission, which provides for a doubling of gas exports to Europe to 20 billion cubic meters by 2027. According to Aliyev, the country is moving toward this goal. This year, exports to European countries will increase to almost 13 billion cubic meters from 11.8 billion in 2023 and 8 billion in 2021.

quote:

Four helicopters, two planes previously owned by Crimean businessmen transferred to ARMA

Following the materials of the State Bureau of Investigation, four helicopters and two planes of the Crimean entrepreneurs, who had been exposed as financing Russian armed aggression, were transferred to the Ukrainian Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA).

The relevant statement was made by the Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Czech Republic joins drone capability coalition for Ukraine
The Czech Republic has officially joined the international drone capability coalition for Ukraine, which is led by Latvia and the United Kingdom.
That's according to the Latvian Defense Ministry, Ukrinform reports.

"The Czech Republic joined the drone coalition for Ukraine led by Latvia and the United Kingdom after its delegation signed a memorandum of understanding during NATO's 75th Anniversary Summit in Washington, D.C, on Thursday, 11 July," the report said.

The number of drone coalition members has increased to 16 after the accession of the Czech Republic.

Coalition members include the United Kingdom, Latvia, Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Estonia, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine, Germany and Sweden.

"Every member state of the coalition can make a significant contribution to Ukraine's efforts and also support the development of their national industry at the same time," Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds said.

quote:

Hungary blocks EU fund for Ukrainian weapons again
Hungary continues to block the next tranche of the European Peace Fund intended for military assistance to Ukraine, according to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

According to Borrell, at a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, the ministers discussed the need to strengthen support for Ukraine.

They also discussed the unblocking of the European Peace Fund, which compensates EU countries for military aid to Ukraine.

He said that the majority of member states insisted on the need to lift the blocking of payments that are delayed for a year. They also emphasized the need to move forward with a decision on a new fund to support Ukraine, which has been blocked by one member state for more than a year.

He noted that the EU member states insisted that this was unacceptable, but unfortunately, the situation of blockage persists.

Borrell did not name a specific country, but it is known that Hungary is the one that is vetoing the next tranche for Ukraine.

Back in May, EU High Representative Josep Borrell accused Hungary of blocking �5 billion in EU military aid to Ukraine.

quote:

Russian lawmakers seek to punish troops using smartphones on Ukraine battlefields
Russia’s lower house of parliament has proposed punishing Russian soldiers caught using smartphones while fighting in Ukraine, state media TASS reported, amid growing concerns that electronic devices can reveal troops’ location on the battlefield.

According to a draft law supported by the State Duma Committee on Defense, carrying internet-connected cell phones whose data can identify Russian troops or the location of forces will be classified as a “gross disciplinary offense” punishable by up to 10 days of arrest. Multiple offenses could lead to up to 15 days of arrest.

The law would also prohibit the use of other electronic devices meant for “household purposes” which allow for video and audio recording and the transmission of geolocation data.

Both Russian and Ukrainian militaries have reportedly used enemy cell phones to identify targets during the war, scraping data from photos and messages to track coordinates and launch attacks.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Latvia sends a batch of more than 500 drones to Ukraine as part of the Drone Coalition

^{Illustration photo of FPV drone. Photo from open sources}

Latvia sent a batch of over 500 drones to Ukraine as part of the international Drone Coalition.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds announced this.

He also posted photos of the packed boxes with the drones inside, before they were shipped.

“A parcel with more than 500 drones is on its way to Ukraine,” the official wrote on social network X.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Boeing and Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov sign a memorandum of cooperation in the drone maintenance field

^{ScanEagle drone. Photo from open sources}

The American Boeing Corporation and Ukraine’s Antonov Company have signed an early agreement that will facilitate cooperation in the field of unmanned systems maintenance.

Breaking Defense reported on this.

The memorandum could pave the way for the two planemakers to work together on unmanned systems to support Ukraine’s defense industry.

In particular, the cooperation opens up the possibility for Antonov to receive engineering support from Boeing.

The memorandum of understanding lists training, logistics support, and maintenance of drones like Boeing’s ScanEagle as potential areas for collaboration.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Czech Republic says shells for Ukraine plan will fall short without more money
Prague’s foreign minister urges donor countries to pay extra to avoid 800k target being missed by over a third

A Czech initiative to supply Ukraine with 800,000 shells by the end of the year will fall short by more than a third unless donor countries come forward with more money, the Czech foreign minister has said.

“We have secured funding for half a million pieces of large-calibre ammunition, which we will deliver by the end of this year,” Jan Lipavsk� told reporters in Brussels on Monday.

But of the 18 countries signed up to the plan, three were yet to contribute. “We can deliver up to 800,000 [rounds] by the end of this year, if we can find the money – so we need money,” Lipavsk� said.

The first 45,000 shells arrived in Ukraine in June, with a further 100,000 due in July and August, and “from September these deliveries will accelerate”, Lipavsk� said.

Launched by the Czech Republic’s president, Petr Pavel, at the Munich Security Conference in February, the Czech initiative was created in response to an acute shell shortage on the Ukrainian battlefield.

It was a time when Russian forces were believed to be outshelling Ukraine by 10 to one, and the US Congress was withholding approval over a $61bn (�47bn) aid package. A separate EU initiative to buy 1m shells for Ukraine was on course at the same time to deliver just over half of its target within a year.

Unlike the European plan, which is buying exclusively EU-made ammunition, the Czech initiative sources shells from all over the world. So far most of the supply has come from outside the EU, including, according to Czech media, South Korea, South Africa and Turkey.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Ukraine parliament extends martial law, general mobilization
The Verkhovna Rada supported the presidential bills: mobilization and martial law will still be in place from August 12 to November 9

The Ukrainian parliament extended martial law and general mobilization for another 90 days, Golos MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported.

Martial law was extended for 90 days from August 12 to November 9.

339 lawmakers voted for the motion, reports Zheleznyak.

General mobilization has been extended for the same period. The legislator noted that 338 MPs supported the initiative, that is, one less than for the continuation of martial law.

This is already the 12th extension of martial law since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submits relevant bills to the parliament every time when the three-month period of validity of the previous documents comes to an end.

In the future, the head of state must sign the bills adopted today.

At the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, martial law was imposed and extended for one month, and from May 2022 to this day, it is extended for three months ahead. From the very beginning, general mobilization was introduced for 90 days.

quote:

Freedom of Russia Legion destroys enemy observation post worth $200,000 inside Russia – video

С помощью дрона-бомбардировщика "Баба Яга" легионеры уничтожили АПТН “Гренадёр” на Белгородчине

Soldiers of the Freedom of Russia Legion, which is fighting on the side of Ukraine, destroyed the Grenadier autonomous technical observation post of the Russian military in Belgorod Oblast, the unit reported on Telegram.

Combat work was performed by the pilots of the Legion's strike drone company, using the Ukrainian-made Baba Yaga drone.

The Legion writes that as a result of the strike, the Grenadier autonomous technical observation post in Belgorod Oblast was destroyed, which is worth over $200,000.

"We are developing and mastering new types of weapons. This is the first flight of our pilots on the Baba Yaga bomber drone, and the result was immediately fiery," the message reads.

The video shows the drop from the drone and a close-range hit to the Grenadier.

Ukrainian defenders from the 110th Brigade earlier shot down another Russian Su-25 aircraft near Pokrovsk in Donbas.

quote:

Ukraine to receive $3.9 billion in non-refundable aid from US
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the decision to secure a $3.9 billion grant from the United States. The funds will be channeled through the structures of the World Bank, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a government meeting.

"The government will allocate this money for the salaries of rescuers, teachers, and medical workers, as well as for social support programs. We expect to receive this grant in the near future," he said.

Shmyhal also mentioned that Ukraine has met the second quarter 2024 indicators for the Ukraine Facility program.

"We have received a positive assessment from the European Commission. This concerns reforms in the budgetary, customs, anti-corruption, and energy sectors," the Prime Minister said, adding that Ukraine expects the next tranche of �4.1 billion from the EU in September this year.

Ukraine has not received aid from the US this year. In April, the US Congress approved a support package for Kyiv amounting to $61 billion, most of which will go to military assistance, with part allocated for budgetary support.

Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has received $14 billion in budgetary support from the EU, IMF, and Western countries. Kyiv expects the total aid for the year to reach $38 billion. Next year, aid will decrease, but Ukraine might receive a $50 billion loan backed by frozen Russian assets.

quote:

90,000 Russians now in Zaporizhzhia Oblast with numbers growing – ZSU
Despite this number of occupiers, it's not enough for Russians to conduct active offensive operations in the south

Russia has concentrated about 90,000 occupiers in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, but these forces are insufficient for advancement, so positional battles predominantly continue in the south, Dmytro Lykhoviy, spokesperson for the Tavria operational-strategic group, said during TV marathon.

He said there are "quite a lot" of Russians in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast – almost 90,000. An increase in this number is observed – over the past three weeks, another 2,000 have been added.

"However, our intelligence says that there are no significant changes that would affect the nature of combat operations, and no signs of the enemy forming an offensive group have been detected," Lykhoviy said.

In other words, he noted that the number of enemy personnel in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts is not enough for Russians to advance further than the lines where the occupiers are currently positioned.

The Russians cannot conduct active combat operations on several fronts simultaneously. Their main activity is currently focused in the Donetsk and Kharkiv Oblasts, so more positional confrontations continue on the southern sections of the front.

quote:

Hungary stripped of EU meeting over Ukraine stance
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borell, has stripped Hungary of the right to host the next meeting of foreign and defence ministers over its stance on the war in Ukraine.

It comes weeks after Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, a role in which it would normally host the event, and amid anger over a meeting Prime Minister Viktor Orban held with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this month.

Mr Borrell said Hungary's actions should have consequences and that "we have to send a signal, even if it is a symbolic signal".

Hungary described the move as "completely childish".

Every six months, under each new council presidency, the EU's foreign and defence ministers hold informal meetings to discuss the biggest global issues facing the bloc.

The next set of meetings will take place on 28-30 August and were to be held in Budapest, but on Monday Mr Borrell announced they would instead take place in Brussels.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Op dinsdag 23 juli 2024 20:59 schreef inslagenreuring het volgende:

[..]
Het wordt op die fronten waarschijnlijk pas echt interessant als er een doorbraak komt en er moeten reserves weg.

quote:

Russian Spending on Cemetery Expansion Triples Since Ukraine Invasion

Russian regions’ spending on cemetery expansion projects was nearly three times higher during the first two years of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine than it was during the two years prior, The Moscow Times has found.

According to data from the official state procurement portal, Russia’s regions spent more than 225 million rubles ($2.5 million) on cemetery expansion in 2023.

This is twice as much as in 2022 and almost six times more than in 2020, before the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Authorities have already spent 136 million rubles ($1.5 million) for this purpose during the first half of 2024. This is compared to 38 million rubles ($432,000) spent by the regions to expand cemeteries in 2020, over 124 million rubles in 2021 ($1.4 million) and 122 million rubles ($1.3 million) in 2022.

In the two pre-pandemic years, 2018 and 2019, the regions spent a combined 1.1 billion rubles ($12.5 million) on cemetery expansion. However, during this period, Moscow conducted a large-scale cemetery renovation program, minus the spending of the capital region, Russia spent about 125 million ($1.4 million) cumulatively for two years.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.