Ukraine says 9 Russian warplanes destroyed in Crimea blasts
Source: AP
By SUSIE BLANN
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s air force said Wednesday that nine Russian warplanes were destroyed in massive explosions at an air base in Crimea amid speculation they were the result of a Ukrainian attack that would represent a significant escalation in the war.
Russia denied any aircraft were damaged in Tuesday’s blasts — or that any attack took place.
Ukrainian officials have stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility for the explosions, while poking fun at Russia’s explanation that munitions at the Saki air base caught fire and blew up and also underscoring the importance of the peninsula that Moscow annexed eight years ago.
In his nightly video address several hours after the blasts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to retake the peninsula, saying that “this Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea — its liberation.”
Seven Russian warplanes were destroyed in huge blasts at Crimean air base, new satellite images show
Source: CNN
At least seven Russian warplanes were destroyed after explosions rocked annexed Crimea on Tuesday, new satellite images show, in what CNN research found could be Moscow's biggest loss of military aircraft in a single day since World War II.
The destroyed warplanes appear to be Su-24 bombers and Su-30 multirole fighter jets, said Peter Layton, a fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute and a former Australian Air Force pilot, who examined Planet Lab satellite photos showing the Saki Air Base before and after the explosions.
Two more warplanes appear to have been damaged, Layton said. On Wednesday, the Ukrainian armed forces added nine aircraft to the tally of Russian military hardware they say has been destroyed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said it could not determine the cause of the explosions at the air base, which lies 225 kilometers (140 miles) behind the Russian front line, according to the Institute for the Study of War think tank.
Ukraine’s Uniquely Upgraded MiG-29 Fulcrum Is Back by Thomas Newdick
August 8, 2022
Introduction:
(The Drive) Ukraine’s most advanced MiG-29 Fulcrum jet fighter, the uniquely upgraded MiG-29MU2, is still active and, based on a recent video, very likely still taking part in the air battle against Russian aircraft and cruise missiles. Rarely seen even before the latest conflict, the MiG-29MU2 at one time embodied the Ukrainian Air Force’s hopes of significantly modernizing its Fulcrum fleet, ambitions since overtaken by calls for new Western fighter equipment to help even the odds in the air war.
Video of the MiG-29MU2 appeared yesterday on social media, very likely timed to coincide with Ukraine’s Air Force Day, celebrated on August 7. The upgraded Fulcrum, the code of which, ‘12 Blue,’ is just visible in the video, is shown fully armed with a pair of radar-guided R-27R (AA-10 Alamo) and four heat-seeking R-73 (AA-11 Archer) air-to-air missiles, all apparently live. It’s seen being inspected in an open-air dispersal before taxiing out. The video ends with a Fulcrum performing a low fly-by, but this is a different jet, unarmed, and seemingly a two-seat combat training version.
Conclusion:
It seems that the unique MiG-29MU2 is one of the aircraft that’s at least available to Ukraine to shoot down Russian aircraft (and missiles). But with no realistic means of upgrading other aircraft at this point, and with no further MiG-29 deliveries on the horizon, many in Ukraine will hope that Western fighter jets will be a much more realistic prospect at least by the time Air Force Day comes around again.
U.N. Chief Demands 'Common Sense' Restraint After Fresh Shelling at Ukraine Nuclear Plant by Kenny Stancil
August 11, 2022
Introduction:
(Common Dreams) United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday renewed his plea for an end to all military activity around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine after it was reported that fresh shelling has damaged multiple radiation sensors.
Any damage to Europe's largest nuclear power plant could lead to "catastrophic consequences" in the region and beyond, Guterres said in a statement issued ahead of an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss security at the site.
Ukraine and Russia should proceed with "common sense and reason" to avoid doing anything "that might endanger the physical integrity, safety, or security" of the sprawling facility, he said.
"Urgent agreement is needed at a technical level on a safe perimeter of demilitarization to ensure the safety of the area," he added.
Guterres' comments came after Energoatom, Ukraine's state-owned nuclear power enterprise, said that missiles exploded near one of the plant's six reactors, damaging "several radiation sensors" and causing "extensive smoke."
caltrek's comment: The article goes on to make the usual fog of war disclaimers. The Russians are blaming the Ukrainians for the shelling, and the Ukrainians are blaming the Russians. Madness...
Ukraine war: Crimea blasts significantly hit Russian navy - UK
1 hour ago
Blasts at a Russian-operated airfield in Crimea this week have "significantly degraded" its navy's Black Sea fleet, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) says.
The Saky base in the west of Russian-ruled Crimea was rocked by a string of blasts on Tuesday, killing one person.
The blasts led to the loss of eight Russian combat jets, the MoD said in its daily intelligence update.
Ukraine has not claimed responsibility, but satellite images suggest the possibility of a targeted attack.
The cause of the blasts is unclear, but at least five fighter-bombers and three multi-role jets were "almost certainly destroyed or seriously damaged", the statement says.
What Will ‘Referendums’ in Occupied Ukraine Regions Look Like? by Mansur Mirovalev
August 11, 2022
Introduction:
(Al Jazeera) Russian-appointed officials say they are planning such processes, but observers say they will lack legitimacy.
Kyiv, Ukraine – The pro-Russian authorities had no choice but to bus in hundreds of “film extras”.
That is how Ivan Fyodorov, the pro-Ukrainian mayor of Melitopol, a city in the Russia-occupied southern region of Zaporizhia, described a rally this week backing an upcoming “referendum” to join Russia.
“They brought ‘film extras’ from other temporarily-occupied areas to Melitopol – 700 people – because they couldn’t even find that many [supporters] among locals,” Fyodorov, who fled the city after it was occupied in early March, wrote on Telegram on Tuesday, using a term that has been a trademark of pro-Kremlin parties and politicians for decades.
caltrek's comment: This is what happens when a country such as Russia denies that they are planning to launch an invasion shortly before launching an invasion. Many of us simply don't trust them, and therefore conclude that a "referendum" will just be an exercise in futile propaganda that proves nothing.
caltrek wrote: ↑Sat Aug 13, 2022 5:55 pm What Will ‘Referendums’ in Occupied Ukraine Regions Look Like? by Mansur Mirovalev
August 11, 2022
Introduction:
(Al Jazeera) Russian-appointed officials say they are planning such processes, but observers say they will lack legitimacy.
Kyiv, Ukraine – The pro-Russian authorities had no choice but to bus in hundreds of “film extras”.
That is how Ivan Fyodorov, the pro-Ukrainian mayor of Melitopol, a city in the Russia-occupied southern region of Zaporizhia, described a rally this week backing an upcoming “referendum” to join Russia.
“They brought ‘film extras’ from other temporarily-occupied areas to Melitopol – 700 people – because they couldn’t even find that many [supporters] among locals,” Fyodorov, who fled the city after it was occupied in early March, wrote on Telegram on Tuesday, using a term that has been a trademark of pro-Kremlin parties and politicians for decades.
caltrek's comment: This is what happens when a country such as Russia denies that they are planning to launch an invasion shortly before launching an invasion. Many of us simply don't trust them, and therefore conclude that a "referendum" will just be an exercise in futile propaganda that proves nothing.
I Would think it would be something like the EU referendum, would you like to join Russia and leave Ukraine.
“In the quantum multiverse, every choice, every decision you've ever and never made exists in an unimaginably vast ensemble of parallel universes.”
Ukraine was behind three explosions in Crimea, says Ukrainian government report
Source: CNN
(CNN) Ukraine was behind three explosions rocked Russian military facilities in the annexed province of Crimea this past week, including an explosion at a Russian air base on the peninsula's west coast that wrecked several airplanes, according to a Ukrainian government report circulated internally and shared with CNN by a Ukrainian official.
The official requested anonymity because they were not authorized to share the information with the media. The report describes the Saki airbase, which was rocked by explosions last Tuesday, as a hard but one time loss for Russian military infrastructure in the peninsula, with subsequent attacks as proof of Ukraine's systematic military capability in targeting Crimea.
The August 9 incident at Saki airbase, which destroyed at least seven military aircraft, severely damaged the base and killed at least one person. Russia claimed it was a result of an accident and Ukrainian officials have so far declined to confirm on the record that they were responsible. In a speech following the incident, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the war "began with Crimea and must end with Crimea -- its liberation."
Another set of explosions were reported in Crimea this week, on August 16, this time at an ammunition depot in Maiske and at an airfield in Gvardeyskoe. Russian officials said the incident in Maiske had been the result of sabotage, but they did not specify the kind of sabotage, or whom they believed was responsible.
Xyls wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 2:34 pm
Ukraine is confident that it will retake Kherson by September. The Russians are in an extremely poor position here. There are only two bridges crossing the Dniper river and Ukraine is consistently making them unusable with HIMAR systems to where the can't restock and reposition troops. There is a high likelihood that Russia will have to cede massive amounts of terrain or suffer massive losses to the Ukrainians here.
wjfox wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 7:37 pm
In other news, all bridges linking Kherson to the rest of occupied Ukraine have been damaged, such that heavy vehicles can no longer traverse them. The Russians now have to decide whether to stay in Kherson and die for Putin, or withdraw.
It seems another proudly announced future victory failed to materialise. Who would have thought? Well, actually I would, it was very clear since very beginning... but if I had answered back then, it would have not been as convincing as it is now, would it?
We are few, and the enemy is strong, but God is not in power, but in truth. Some with weapons, and others on horseback, but we call on the name of the Lord our God; they were defeated and fell, but we stood and stand straight.
And now some REAL analytics, of level unimaginable for this forum (or, as it seems, anywhere else in the West). Just look at this, the brief amateur post with discussion in comments written in April 2021 (!!!) and describing the future war in amazingly accurate (and far from obvious back then) details. They have even drawn the map of desired and possible outcome, based on the socio-cultural-demographic situation on the ground... no comments, just leave it here:
We are few, and the enemy is strong, but God is not in power, but in truth. Some with weapons, and others on horseback, but we call on the name of the Lord our God; they were defeated and fell, but we stood and stand straight.
Ukraine Crowdfunded a $17 Million Reconnaissance SAR Satellite by Anton Pozdnyakov
August, 2022
Introduction:
(Universe Today) Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation signed a contract with ICEYE to provide the Government of Ukraine with the SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) reconnaissance data and full capabilities of one of ICEYE’s satellite already in orbit. The deal was closed with the money from the Foundation’s crowdfunding initiative.
The Crowdfunding
The story of this acquisition is rather interesting. Serhiy Prytula, who was a showman, comic and TV host before the war, has been doing a lot of volunteering to help Ukraine fight against Russia’s invasion. His charity foundation has been providing the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the people of Ukraine with humanitarian aid, supplies, armour, drones, communication equipment, cars, arms, etc. Most of it is bought from donations to Serhiy Prytula’s fund. During the war, the Foundation raised more than $53 million in donations. It is one of the biggest war effort charities in Ukraine.
In June 2022 Serhiy Prytula’s Fund in cooperation with blogger Ihor Lachenkov ran the People’s Bayraktar project. Its goal was to raise money for Bayrakatar TB2 UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). The project raised over 600 million UAH, which corresponds to roughly $17 million. But Baykar, the manufacturer of Bayraktar TB2, decided to give three drones for free. Which left a lot of money to be spent elsewhere.
Earlier today Serhyi Prytula’s Foundation finally revealed that after consulting with the Ministry of Defence, they decided to use the money to buy a reconnaissance satellite from ICEYE. It will provide the Government of Ukraine with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imaging capabilities, which should help defend their territories.
US announces new military aid, drones for Ukraine
Source: AP
By LOLITA C. BALDOR and MATTHEW LEE
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. for the first time Friday said it will give Ukraine Scan Eagle surveillance drones, mine-resistant vehicles, anti-armor rounds and howitzer weapons to help Ukrainian forces regain territory and mount a counteroffensive against Russian invaders.
A senior defense official told reporters that a new $775 million aid package will include 15 Scan Eagles, 40 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles known as MRAPs with mine-clearing rollers, and 2,000 anti-armor rounds that can help Ukraine troops move forward in the south and east, where Russian forces have placed mines. The official said the U.S. is looking to help shape and arm the Ukrainian force of the future as the war drags on.
“These capabilities are carefully calibrated to make the most difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine’s position at the negotiating table,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
This latest aid comes as Russia’s war on Ukraine is about to reach the six-month mark. It brings the total U.S. military aid to Ukraine to about $10.6 billion since the beginning of the Biden administration. It is the 19th time the Pentagon has provided equipment from Defense Department stocks to Ukraine since August 2021.
and 2,000 anti-armor rounds that can help Ukraine troops move forward in the south and east
,
So, 1,000 east; 1,000 south.
Looking at the length of the front, it doesn't seem the right amount of ammo to launch nor to maintain an offensive, more like enough to defeat all those "armour probes" for a couple of weeks.
