The UK has announced £450 million in additional military aid for Ukraine, comprising £160 million for equipment repair and over £250 million for a new package including drones, anti-tank mines, and radar systems. This contribution, alongside funding from Norway, supports Ukraine’s defense against ongoing Russian aggression. The aid is part of a broader strategy involving a meeting of 50 nations to pressure Russia to end the war and comes amidst continued fighting and cross-border incursions. This latest package builds on previous significant UK military commitments to Ukraine.
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February witnessed the highest monthly destruction of Russian military vehicles since the invasion began, with Ukrainian forces eliminating over 3,472 vehicles and fuel tanks, along with hundreds of armored vehicles and tanks. Despite a decrease in ground combat engagements compared to January, Russian air strikes significantly increased. Heavy Russian losses, including an estimated 36,570 troops in February alone, suggest a high cost for minimal territorial gains in eastern Ukraine. This escalating equipment and personnel depletion has reportedly forced Russia to resort to using less protective equipment and civilian vehicles.
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Former President Trump called for the retrieval of billions of dollars worth of U.S. military equipment left in Afghanistan following the withdrawal, claiming it is now being sold by the Taliban. He specifically cited the abandonment of Bagram Air Base and the transfer of equipment to the Afghan National Army as contributing factors. Trump’s suggestion would necessitate a re-invasion of Afghanistan, a highly complex and potentially costly undertaking. Defense experts note that much of this equipment was either demilitarized or transferred to Afghan forces prior to the withdrawal.
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Sky News captured footage of Russian ships Sparta and Sparta 2, sanctioned by the US in 2022, transiting the English Channel on February 13th. These vessels, owned by a Russian Ministry of Defence company, transported military equipment evacuated from Syria following the Assad regime’s fall. The British Navy’s RFA Tideforce shadowed the Russian ships, which were accompanied by the armed Russian naval ship RFS Aleksandr Otrakovskiy. This equipment was likely moved from Russia’s now-abandoned Tartus naval base.
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A Russian drone mistakenly attacked a North Korean-made surface-to-air missile (SAM) system in Russian service, initially misidentified as a Western radar system. The incident, which occurred in Kursk Oblast, was captured on video and publicized through Russian military channels. The North Korean SAM system, a known analog of Russia’s Tor system, was first seen publicly in 2020. This friendly fire incident highlights the increasing use of North Korean military equipment by Russia in the ongoing conflict.
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Russia’s largest film studio, Mosfilm, has donated 36 aging tanks to the Russian military, according to its head, Karen Shakhnazarov. These tanks, including T-55 and PT-76 models, were originally props for film productions and are considered obsolete by modern standards. However, as Russia struggles to replenish its war equipment after heavy losses in Ukraine, the studio’s contribution highlights the desperate measures being taken to fill the void. While the tanks’ effectiveness on the modern battlefield is uncertain, their deployment underscores the strain on Russia’s military resources.
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Russia has lost at least 100 of the T-90M tanks that Putin touted as the ‘world’s best’ in Ukraine, as revealed by tracker data. This news sheds light on the consequences of poor strategy and exaggerated authoritarian claims. The narrative that everything a country produces is the best is an age-old authoritarian tactic, but the reality is far from the hype. Even if the T-90M tank may outclass its western counterparts in some aspects, the exaggerated rhetoric surrounding its capabilities is laughable.
The comparison between the losses of Russian tanks versus Ukrainian tanks in the ongoing conflict paints a stark picture.… Continue reading
$375,000 – The Sticker Price for an Iranian Shahed Drone sold to Russia
In a recent revelation, it has emerged that Russia has purchased Iranian Shahed drones at a staggeringly high price of $375,000 per unit. The news, which came to light through a hacking incident, has left many questioning the exorbitant cost of these drones. As an interested observer, I cannot help but express my own insights and opinions on this matter.
The leaked documents indicate that Russia signed a contract worth $1.75 billion for 6,000 Shahed drones, including hardware and software. It is astonishing to see that part of the payment was made in literal gold, with over 2 tonnes shipped to Iran.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker