USV threat constrains operations of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet – UK intel
27.03.2023 11:40
The uncrewed surface vessels (USV) threat likely continues to constrain operations of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
The relevant statement was made by the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom on Twitter, referring to the latest Defence Intelligence update, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
On March 22, 2023, at least three uncrewed surface vessels (USV) and one uncrewed aerial vehicle reportedly attempted to strike the Russian naval base of Sevastopol, in occupied Crimea.
Open source reports suggest that one USV was stopped by defensive booms, while two were destroyed in the harbour. Russian officials said that no Russian vessels had been damaged.
According to the UK intelligence, a previous USV attack on Sevastopol on October 29, 2022 reportedly damaged the minesweeper Ivan Golubets and the frigate Admiral Makarov.
Even though the new attacks likely failed to damage any military assets, the USV threat likely continues to constrain operations of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, the UK intelligence concluded
Germany is failing to support Ukraine with the required amount of military and economic assistance, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki claimed on Friday.
In an interview with Politico, Morawiecki issued a stark rebuke of Berlin’s position on the Ukraine conflict, arguing that it has “not [been] as generous as they should have been.”
Germany should be “sending more weapons, sending more ammunition, and giving more money to Ukraine, because they are the richest and the biggest country by far” in the EU, he said.
Despite his stinging criticism, Morawiecki insisted that he was “not attacking” the German government, but rather “stating the obvious.”
The Polish premier noted that Germany had changed its position several times during the conflict, as exemplified by its decision to greenlight deliveries of Leopard 2 main battle tanks. “Three months ago, Germany said it’s not possible — now, it’s possible,” he recalled.
However, Morawiecki still took a swipe at Berlin’s energy policy, which until recently was heavily reliant on Russian fossil fuels. “Through their very mistaken gas and oil policy towards Russia, they are co-responsible for what is happening, for this mess on the energy market.”
Last month, the PM lambasted Berlin for its dependence on Russian energy, comparing it at one point to a drug addict who had “sold its soul” to Moscow. Those comments were later echoed by Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, who accused Germany of allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin “to get the money he used to strengthen his army” by selling gas.
The remarks sparked outrage in Berlin, with Germany’s ambassador to Warsaw, Thomas Bagger, hitting back by saying: “Does the minister know how many billions of zloty Poland transferred to Moscow every year in exchange for Russian energy?”
According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, since January 2022, Germany has in total committed more than €6 billion ($6.46 billion) of various types of assistance to Ukraine, with about a third being military aid. Russia has repeatedly warned the West against supplying Kiev with arms, arguing that such policies only prolong the conflict while making it a direct participant in the hostilities.
Comment by tonytran2015: Iraq, Iran, Lybia, Pakistan were emerging potential nuclear powers. So USA and Israel wanted to destroy them by one way or another. Pakistan has been lucky to stay intact.
Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi was Egypt’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States at the time of the US invasion of Iraq. He shared his memories in an interview with Sputnik.
In his interview, Nabil Fahmi said that the American invasion of Iraq was already in place when George W Bush came to power, and he was simply looking for a suitable opportunity to carry out the plan.
Sputnik : As an Egyptian diplomat at the time, how did you feel about the US decision to invade Iraq in 2003?
Nabil Fahmi: At the time, in 2003, I was Egypt’s Ambassador to the United States. Of course, the entire Arab diplomatic corps was discussing the invasion in one way or another. Even with the election of Bush Jr as President of the United States, I noticed a really unhealthy interest the neocons took in Iraq. US vice-president Richard (“Dick”) Cheney was particularly prominent in this regard. On his first visit to Arab countries, he told me personally that he wanted to focus on Iraq.
Belgium’s Defence Ministry is planning to hand over 240 military trucks to Ukraine.
The relevant statement was made by The Brussels Times, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
The first Volvo Cargo, Volvo Shelter, Volvo Fassi, and Volvo Manumat vehicles are scheduled for delivery next week. They will be used to ferry troops and equipment to the front line.
The Belgian army has a reserve of around 400 Volvo Cargo, Volvo Shelter, Volvo Fassi, and Volvo Manumat vehicles. This includes cargo models, lifting vehicles, and breakdown trucks. These vehicles will be phased out and replaced with newer vehicles this year.
According to Belgium’s Defence Material Resources Department, the phasing out of the vehicles has been planned for several years, but their replacement has been ‘turbocharged’ by the war in Ukraine. Thus, the Belgian army can transfer the majority to the Ukrainian army.
These trucks have been in service since as early as 1992, but remain in good condition. All the vehicles are set to be inspected and refurbished where necessary before they are shipped to eastern Europe. Additionally, the Belgian side will send spare parts and instruction manuals for the trucks.
Russian military death toll in Ukraine climbs to 163,320
infographics
17.03.2023 08:39
Ukraine’s defense forces eliminated about 163,320 Russian soldiers between February 24, 2022, and March 17, 2023, including 760 in the past day alone.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in a post on Facebook.
Over the period, Ukrainian defenders destroyed 3,506 Russian main battle tanks (including two tanks in the past day), 6,823 armored combat vehicles (+13), 2,552 artillery systems (+13), and 504 multiple launch rocket systems (+1). The enemy also lost 265 anti-aircraft warfare systems, 305 warplanes, 290 helicopters (+1), 2,145 tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, 907 cruise missiles, 18 warships/boats, 5,401 vehicles and fuel trucks (+7), and 258 pieces of special equipment (+1).
As reported, as of 21:35 local time, an air raid alert was declared in the capital of Ukraine and Kyiv region.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, since the full-scale invasion, Russian troops have fired off at Ukraine almost 5,000 missiles, also launching 3,500 airstrikes and 1,100 drone attacks.
The America of 1940 doesn’t exist anymore. …… The Washington Post reports: “In the first eight months after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion, Ukrainian forces burned through 13 years worth of Stinger antiaircraft missiles and five years of Javelin missiles, according to Raytheon, which produces both weapons.”…Artillery production … could produce 14,000 155mm howitzer shells a month. The Ukrainian forces on the front were burning through 7,700 rounds per day. … The New York Times reports the United States sent 142 M777 howitzers to Ukraine. …
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