Tish
SF VIP
- Location
- Rural N.S.W. Australia
I wasn't sure where to post this.
Countdown to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Thread starter Irwin
- Start date
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Ukraine accused Russian forces of dropping phosphorus bombs on Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant on Sunday, as the families of the fighters trapped in the sprawling complex said they fear their fight is coming to an end.
An aerial video posted to social media on Sunday showed the attack on the plant, where Ukrainian soldiers have been making a final stand against the Russian onslaught on the port city that has been all-but reduced to rubble.
The footage begins with an aerial view of the vast Azovstal plant, when suddenly a Russian missile detonates in mid-air - releasing a fiery burst over the already heavily damaged factory buildings below.
A burst of fiery 'sparks' is shown over the plant a split second after a Russian missile detonated above the steel works, raining incendiary munitions down onto the factory
Sparks - which are actually a grouping of incendiary munitions - fall to the ground and ignite. From a distance, the explosions look almost like fire crackers, but in reality are a series of countless detonations.
As the camera pans out, more bursts of munitions are seen erupting over the plant, raining flaming explosives down from above.
The attack is unrelenting, with hundreds of the sparks landing on the roofs and grounds of the steel works and setting them alight.
Ukrainians claimed the video showed Vladimir Putin's forces dropping 9M22S incendiary and phosphorus bombs on Azovstal, that an official said burn at temperatures of over 2,000 degrees Celsius.
Click here for the video of the attack...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...hosphorus-bombs-rain-Azovstal-steelworks.html
An aerial video posted to social media on Sunday showed the attack on the plant, where Ukrainian soldiers have been making a final stand against the Russian onslaught on the port city that has been all-but reduced to rubble.
The footage begins with an aerial view of the vast Azovstal plant, when suddenly a Russian missile detonates in mid-air - releasing a fiery burst over the already heavily damaged factory buildings below.
A burst of fiery 'sparks' is shown over the plant a split second after a Russian missile detonated above the steel works, raining incendiary munitions down onto the factory
Sparks - which are actually a grouping of incendiary munitions - fall to the ground and ignite. From a distance, the explosions look almost like fire crackers, but in reality are a series of countless detonations.
As the camera pans out, more bursts of munitions are seen erupting over the plant, raining flaming explosives down from above.
The attack is unrelenting, with hundreds of the sparks landing on the roofs and grounds of the steel works and setting them alight.
Ukrainians claimed the video showed Vladimir Putin's forces dropping 9M22S incendiary and phosphorus bombs on Azovstal, that an official said burn at temperatures of over 2,000 degrees Celsius.
Click here for the video of the attack...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...hosphorus-bombs-rain-Azovstal-steelworks.html
Em in Ohio
Senior Member
- Location
- OH HI OH
I have to admit that I can't bring myself to watch any of these videos, but I am grateful for the posts and those who can emotionally and psychologically handle them. I do, however, listen to the news from multiple sources. One thing that I do follow is the Doomsday Clock and a good synopsis with quotes can be found here:
https://www.postapocalypticmedia.co...press statement,January based on world events.
Partial quotes from that site:
" “In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Russian takeover of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Science and Security Board announced that the Clock will stay at 100 seconds to midnight—the closest humanity has ever been to self-destruction. The board is a select group of globally-recognized leaders who set the Doomsday Clock, and it recently convened to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine.” "
" "In January 2022 the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the Doomsday Clock at 100 seconds to midnight. At that time, we called out Ukraine as a potential flashpoint in an increasingly tense international security landscape. For many years, we and others have warned that the most likely way nuclear weapons might be used is through an unwanted or unintended escalation from a conventional conflict. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought this nightmare scenario to life, with Russian President Vladimir Putin threatening to elevate nuclear alert levels and even first use of nuclear weapons if NATO steps in to help Ukraine. This is what 100 seconds to midnight looks like." "
https://www.postapocalypticmedia.co...press statement,January based on world events.
Partial quotes from that site:
" “In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Russian takeover of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Science and Security Board announced that the Clock will stay at 100 seconds to midnight—the closest humanity has ever been to self-destruction. The board is a select group of globally-recognized leaders who set the Doomsday Clock, and it recently convened to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine.” "
" "In January 2022 the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the Doomsday Clock at 100 seconds to midnight. At that time, we called out Ukraine as a potential flashpoint in an increasingly tense international security landscape. For many years, we and others have warned that the most likely way nuclear weapons might be used is through an unwanted or unintended escalation from a conventional conflict. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought this nightmare scenario to life, with Russian President Vladimir Putin threatening to elevate nuclear alert levels and even first use of nuclear weapons if NATO steps in to help Ukraine. This is what 100 seconds to midnight looks like." "
JustDave
Well-known Member
Would Putin go for broke and start a nuclear war? He may desperate enough, I suppose, because his war in Ukraine is turning into an embarrassment for Russia. Hitler shot himself in the head before his actual defeat, but he didn't have nuclear weapons. Putin's best option would be to accept defeat. Whether he would start a nuclear war is unknown, because he is a liar and a power monger caught in a corner. He is near the end of his life, and doesn't have that much personally to lose. His legacy would be worthless after a doomsday move, because no one would be around to build a monument to him.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Russian state media's trumped-up narrative of Putin's glorious war in Ukraine was last night shattered by a retired colonel who gave an unusually frank and damning assessment of the situation on the frontlines and world stage.
Mikhail Khodarenok, a former air defence commander and graduate of some of the Soviet Union's top military schools, used his platform on one of Russia's most-watched talk shows to warn that the war is going badly and is likely to get worse, and that nuclear sabre-rattling - far from being threatening - actually 'looks quite amusing'.
Ukraine, he said, will soon have mobilised more than a million soldiers who will be trained by the West and equipped with modern weapons, ready to fight and die to protect their homeland against Russia.
Batting aside repeated interruption from propagandist Olga Skabeyeva that the army will be mostly made of conscripts, Khodarenok insisted that how an army is recruited is irrelevant - what really matters is willingness to fight, and Ukraine 'intends to fight to the last man.'
Russia's position on the world stage is no better, he added, pointing out that 'we are in full geopolitical isolation, and that, however much we would hate to admit this, virtually the entire world is against us. And it's that situation that we need to get out of.'
Khodarenok's remarks, broadcast to millions of Russians who until now have been spoon-fed a narrative of their military's prowess and Ukraine's weakness, mark a stunning break with the state-sanctioned narrative and puts him at extreme odds with the Kremlin stooges stood to either side of him.
First of all, he said, rumours of a 'moral and psychological breakdown in the Ukrainian armed forces which are allegedly on the verge of some kind of crisis in morale' are 'to put it mildly, is false'.
'The situation... is that the Ukrainian armed forces are able to arm a million people,' he added, who will be equipped with western weapons and trained how to use them by armies that are part of NATO. 'So a million armed Ukrainian soldiers needs to be viewed as a reality of the very near future,' he said.
Batting aside objections from Skabayeva that most of those men will be conscripts, he insisted that what really matters isn't how an army is recruited but its willingness to fight.
'A desire to protect one's homeland, in the sense that it exists in Ukraine, it really does exist there, they intend to fight to the last man,' he said. 'Ultimately victory on the battlefield is determined by a high level of morale among personnel, which sheds blood for the ideas which it's prepared to fight for.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...lls-Russian-state-media-world-against-us.html
Mikhail Khodarenok, a former air defence commander and graduate of some of the Soviet Union's top military schools, used his platform on one of Russia's most-watched talk shows to warn that the war is going badly and is likely to get worse, and that nuclear sabre-rattling - far from being threatening - actually 'looks quite amusing'.
Ukraine, he said, will soon have mobilised more than a million soldiers who will be trained by the West and equipped with modern weapons, ready to fight and die to protect their homeland against Russia.
Batting aside repeated interruption from propagandist Olga Skabeyeva that the army will be mostly made of conscripts, Khodarenok insisted that how an army is recruited is irrelevant - what really matters is willingness to fight, and Ukraine 'intends to fight to the last man.'
Russia's position on the world stage is no better, he added, pointing out that 'we are in full geopolitical isolation, and that, however much we would hate to admit this, virtually the entire world is against us. And it's that situation that we need to get out of.'
Khodarenok's remarks, broadcast to millions of Russians who until now have been spoon-fed a narrative of their military's prowess and Ukraine's weakness, mark a stunning break with the state-sanctioned narrative and puts him at extreme odds with the Kremlin stooges stood to either side of him.
First of all, he said, rumours of a 'moral and psychological breakdown in the Ukrainian armed forces which are allegedly on the verge of some kind of crisis in morale' are 'to put it mildly, is false'.
'The situation... is that the Ukrainian armed forces are able to arm a million people,' he added, who will be equipped with western weapons and trained how to use them by armies that are part of NATO. 'So a million armed Ukrainian soldiers needs to be viewed as a reality of the very near future,' he said.
Batting aside objections from Skabayeva that most of those men will be conscripts, he insisted that what really matters isn't how an army is recruited but its willingness to fight.
'A desire to protect one's homeland, in the sense that it exists in Ukraine, it really does exist there, they intend to fight to the last man,' he said. 'Ultimately victory on the battlefield is determined by a high level of morale among personnel, which sheds blood for the ideas which it's prepared to fight for.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...lls-Russian-state-media-world-against-us.html
Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
And Russian propaganda still tries to insist that Ukraine is being bullied by Nazis and needs rescuing. And it's estimated that about 1/3 of the Russian people still believe that - mostly her elderly citizens.
Russian soldiers are calling home and telling their spouses and parents that this simply isn't true. Sadly, some of their parents think those soldiers have been brainwashed by the Ukrainians.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
I know...And Russian propaganda still tries to insist that Ukraine is being bullied by Nazis and needs rescuing. And it's estimated that about 1/3 of the Russian people still believe that - mostly her elderly citizens.
Russian soldiers are calling home and telling their spouses and parents that this simply isn't true. Sadly, some of their parents think those soldiers have been brainwashed by the Ukrainians.
Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
Word is spreading in Russia, though. Maybe too slowly, but there's hope for them (and Ukraine).I know...
Tish
SF VIP
- Location
- Rural N.S.W. Australia
I guess this is not ending any time soon
Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
There could be surprises just around the corner. But certain aspects of this invasion could be around for 1000 years. It is historic.I guess this is not ending any time soon
Let me ask this question. How long can Ukraine continue to fight without U.S. money? Seems like we are Ukraine’s war fund or piggy bank. Also, are other countries contributing to Ukraine’s war effort? I have seen many large buildings destroyed by Russian military. I think the U.S. will be asked to contribute to their rebuilding efforts.
SeniorBen
Senior Member
I think that if Ukraine emerges victorious, there will be a worldwide effort to help them rebuild, as there should be. And they should be allowed into NATO.
JMO.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Putins' worst nightmare....
Finland and Sweden have today submitted formal letters of application to NATO, firing the starting pistol on their race to become part of the military alliance.
Axel Wernhoff and Klaus Korhonen, the Swedish and Finnish ambassadors to NATO, were pictured walking into the Brussels headquarters on Tuesday morning clutching their letters of application to present to alliance head Jens Stoltenberg.
'I warmly welcome the requests by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. You are our closest partners,' a smiling Stoltenberg said as he held the application.
'All allies agree on the importance of NATO enlargement. We all agree that we must stand together, and we all agree that this is an historic moment which we must seize. This is a good day.'
The proposals must now be judged and approved by all 30 members of the alliance before the Scandinavian nations can be accepted. The process typically takes up to a year, but will be fast-tracked and could take as little as two months.
If approved as expected, the two will become part of the world's largest military alliance - gaining protection from its mutual defence pledge while adding almost a million troops to its ranks along with state of the art artillery, planes and submarines.
But Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to derail the process, saying he is not in favour of membership because Sweden and Finland have granted asylum to opponents of his regime.
All NATO decisions must be taken unanimously, so Erdogan's protest-vote could prove decisive.
Finnish and Swedish diplomats met with their Turkish counterpart at an informal summit in Berlin on Saturday in an attempt to iron out any creases, and there is a general feeling that - with the right incentives - Erdogan can be pacified.
Expanding the alliance to Finland and Sweden represents a huge shift in what is known as Europe's 'security architecture', as both nations have been historically bound to pacts of neutrality.
Finland's neutrality dates back to the Second World War and the last time it was invaded by the Soviets.
The Winter War - which saw the Soviet army suffer heavy casualties at Finnish hands - ended with a deal in which Finland ceded 10 per cent of its territory and agreed it would never allow its territory to be used to attack Russia.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...weden-submit-NATO-membership-application.html
Finland and Sweden have today submitted formal letters of application to NATO, firing the starting pistol on their race to become part of the military alliance.
Axel Wernhoff and Klaus Korhonen, the Swedish and Finnish ambassadors to NATO, were pictured walking into the Brussels headquarters on Tuesday morning clutching their letters of application to present to alliance head Jens Stoltenberg.
'I warmly welcome the requests by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. You are our closest partners,' a smiling Stoltenberg said as he held the application.
'All allies agree on the importance of NATO enlargement. We all agree that we must stand together, and we all agree that this is an historic moment which we must seize. This is a good day.'
The proposals must now be judged and approved by all 30 members of the alliance before the Scandinavian nations can be accepted. The process typically takes up to a year, but will be fast-tracked and could take as little as two months.
If approved as expected, the two will become part of the world's largest military alliance - gaining protection from its mutual defence pledge while adding almost a million troops to its ranks along with state of the art artillery, planes and submarines.
But Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to derail the process, saying he is not in favour of membership because Sweden and Finland have granted asylum to opponents of his regime.
All NATO decisions must be taken unanimously, so Erdogan's protest-vote could prove decisive.
Finnish and Swedish diplomats met with their Turkish counterpart at an informal summit in Berlin on Saturday in an attempt to iron out any creases, and there is a general feeling that - with the right incentives - Erdogan can be pacified.
Expanding the alliance to Finland and Sweden represents a huge shift in what is known as Europe's 'security architecture', as both nations have been historically bound to pacts of neutrality.
Finland's neutrality dates back to the Second World War and the last time it was invaded by the Soviets.
The Winter War - which saw the Soviet army suffer heavy casualties at Finnish hands - ended with a deal in which Finland ceded 10 per cent of its territory and agreed it would never allow its territory to be used to attack Russia.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...weden-submit-NATO-membership-application.html
I guess I am the lone wolf on this one. It just seems to me that the U.S. pays everyone's way in these situations. Whether it be to fight a war or to rebuild. I believe the U.S. tends to overdo it. I heard on Sirius BBC's news that Biden made a statement to one of their reporters that the U.S. is willing to commit up to $3trillion to the Ukraine's efforts against Russia. I didn't quite understand if that meant just war money or included rebuilding money. Either way, it doesn't much matter. Every dollar we hand over to Ukraine is borrowed. We have no money left in the budget to be able to give away cash. Right now, I Bonds are paying a very good rate of return at 9.62% interest, at least through October.
I know this sounds cold, but let's be real, the U.S. has no interests located in any of those countries that I am aware of, do they? Some of those countries in Eastern Europe are in NATO and if any of them would come under attack, NATO forces would be deployed. That fact alone should weigh heavy on Putin's mind (what he has left). I would also think that if WWIII hasn't been started before then, that very well may be the beginning of it.
I have heard several members of congress use the statement that "we are at war with Russia." I don't know how that came about, unless they believe that by "giving" money to Ukraine to support their war effort, the U.S. has involved itself.
I also believe that we are on the brink of WWIII. I think that it wouldn't take much more for the U.S. to deploy troops to the region, but not to engage, but to act as a deterrent to Russia to not expand the war zone.
We are also sending special ops forces to Somalia to fight off the terrorist groups in that region. My suggestion to investors is to buy into the defense stocks. They seem to be doing OK.
I have heard several members of congress use the statement that "we are at war with Russia." I don't know how that came about, unless they believe that by "giving" money to Ukraine to support their war effort, the U.S. has involved itself.
I also believe that we are on the brink of WWIII. I think that it wouldn't take much more for the U.S. to deploy troops to the region, but not to engage, but to act as a deterrent to Russia to not expand the war zone.
We are also sending special ops forces to Somalia to fight off the terrorist groups in that region. My suggestion to investors is to buy into the defense stocks. They seem to be doing OK.
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hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
A baby-faced Russian tank commander who shot a Ukrainian grandfather dead was stared down in court yesterday by his victim’s widow – who said he should ‘rot in jail’.
Vadim Shishimarin, 21, pleaded guilty to murder at Ukraine’s first war crimes trial after blasting Oleksandr Shelypov, 62, four times in the head.
Kateryna Shelypova told the Daily Mail that her husband of 39 years had been a ‘peaceful pensioner’ who had posed no threat to Russian soldiers.
Mr Shelypov had served in the Russian military as a KGB bodyguard to former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.
In a cruel twist of fate he was murdered 40 years later in the invasion ordered by president Vladimir Putin, himself a former KGB intelligence officer.
A packed courtroom in Kyiv heard that Mr Shelypov was pushing his bicycle home when he was gunned down in cold blood yards from his front door in the north-eastern village of Chupakhivka on February 28, the fifth day of the war.
Shishimarin fired an AK-47 assault rifle from the open window of a stolen car as his unit fled Ukrainian forces who had blown up their tank.
The sergeant, from Irkutsk in Siberia, had confessed to shooting Mr Shelypov on orders from a superior officer.
The victim’s wife, 61, had travelled five hours by car to Kyiv from her home in rural Ukraine, just 50 miles from the Russian border, to confront her husband’s killer in court yesterday.
Russian tank commander Vadim Shishimarin, 21, who shot a Ukrainian grandfather dead was stared down in court yesterday by his victim’s widow – who said he should ‘rot in jail'. The victim's wife, Kateryna Shelypova, looks at Shishimarin in court on Wednesday
Vadim Shishimarin, 21, pleaded guilty to murder at Ukraine’s first war crimes trial after blasting Oleksandr Shelypov, 62, four times in the head.
Kateryna Shelypova told the Daily Mail that her husband of 39 years had been a ‘peaceful pensioner’ who had posed no threat to Russian soldiers.
Mr Shelypov had served in the Russian military as a KGB bodyguard to former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.
In a cruel twist of fate he was murdered 40 years later in the invasion ordered by president Vladimir Putin, himself a former KGB intelligence officer.
A packed courtroom in Kyiv heard that Mr Shelypov was pushing his bicycle home when he was gunned down in cold blood yards from his front door in the north-eastern village of Chupakhivka on February 28, the fifth day of the war.
Shishimarin fired an AK-47 assault rifle from the open window of a stolen car as his unit fled Ukrainian forces who had blown up their tank.
The sergeant, from Irkutsk in Siberia, had confessed to shooting Mr Shelypov on orders from a superior officer.
The victim’s wife, 61, had travelled five hours by car to Kyiv from her home in rural Ukraine, just 50 miles from the Russian border, to confront her husband’s killer in court yesterday.
Russian tank commander Vadim Shishimarin, 21, who shot a Ukrainian grandfather dead was stared down in court yesterday by his victim’s widow – who said he should ‘rot in jail'. The victim's wife, Kateryna Shelypova, looks at Shishimarin in court on Wednesday
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hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
The US Defense Department is in the process of buying new tank-busting "kamikaze" drones for Ukraine, as part of efforts to help the country fight off Russia's invasion.
The Pentagon is negotiating with company AeroVironment to procure 10 Switchblade 600 drones, a new dive-bombing, armour-piercing tactical drone that explodes on impact, Bloomberg reports.
AeroVironment did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Here's what we know about its killer drones, and what difference they could make in the war in Ukraine.
There are two versions of the Switchblade suicide drone: the Switchblade 300 and the Switchblade 600.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed in April that the Pentagon was sending both variants to Ukraine.
According to Bloomberg, the US has committed to send at least 700 Switchblades to Ukraine, and at least 100 have already arrived. So far, those have been the Switchblade 300, a light single-use drone that fits in a backpack and is designed to attack personnel and light vehicles.
AeroVironment says in a factsheet that the Switchblade 300 cruises at around 100 km/h and carries cameras, guidance systems and explosives to dive-bomb into its target. It can fly for up to 15 minutes and 10 km before striking.
The kamikaze drone uses real-time GPS coordinates and video for "precise targeting with low collateral effects," the company says.
It’s launched from a tube and its small size allows it to take off from a variety of air, sea, and ground platforms. The whole kit - including the payload, launcher, and transport bag - weighs just 2.5 kg.
Unlike most weapons, the Switchblade can also disengage or abort a mission at any time, and then recommit to another target depending on what the operator commands.
This aims to ensure that strikes are precise and can be called off at the very last minute if they endanger civilians or properties nearby.
https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/...amikaze-weapons-and-how-can-they-help-ukraine
The Pentagon is negotiating with company AeroVironment to procure 10 Switchblade 600 drones, a new dive-bombing, armour-piercing tactical drone that explodes on impact, Bloomberg reports.
AeroVironment did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Here's what we know about its killer drones, and what difference they could make in the war in Ukraine.
There are two versions of the Switchblade suicide drone: the Switchblade 300 and the Switchblade 600.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed in April that the Pentagon was sending both variants to Ukraine.
According to Bloomberg, the US has committed to send at least 700 Switchblades to Ukraine, and at least 100 have already arrived. So far, those have been the Switchblade 300, a light single-use drone that fits in a backpack and is designed to attack personnel and light vehicles.
AeroVironment says in a factsheet that the Switchblade 300 cruises at around 100 km/h and carries cameras, guidance systems and explosives to dive-bomb into its target. It can fly for up to 15 minutes and 10 km before striking.
The kamikaze drone uses real-time GPS coordinates and video for "precise targeting with low collateral effects," the company says.
It’s launched from a tube and its small size allows it to take off from a variety of air, sea, and ground platforms. The whole kit - including the payload, launcher, and transport bag - weighs just 2.5 kg.
Unlike most weapons, the Switchblade can also disengage or abort a mission at any time, and then recommit to another target depending on what the operator commands.
This aims to ensure that strikes are precise and can be called off at the very last minute if they endanger civilians or properties nearby.
https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/...amikaze-weapons-and-how-can-they-help-ukraine
JustDave
Well-known Member
Value of companies leaving Russia estimated at roughly half of Russia's GDP
This surprises me.
This surprises me.
I’m sure that Ukraine can well afford these weapons. The U.S. just sent them another from $40billion. Of corse, this is all borrowed or printed money. We have an endless supply. Oh wait, we are giving them these weapons in addition to the $40billion. I sometimes wonder if all of this money we are supposedly sending to Ukraine is actually getting to their shores.The US Defense Department is in the process of buying new tank-busting "kamikaze" drones for Ukraine, as part of efforts to help the country fight off Russia's invasion.
The Pentagon is negotiating with company AeroVironment to procure 10 Switchblade 600 drones, a new dive-bombing, armour-piercing tactical drone that explodes on impact, Bloomberg reports.
AeroVironment did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Here's what we know about its killer drones, and what difference they could make in the war in Ukraine.
There are two versions of the Switchblade suicide drone: the Switchblade 300 and the Switchblade 600.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed in April that the Pentagon was sending both variants to Ukraine.
According to Bloomberg, the US has committed to send at least 700 Switchblades to Ukraine, and at least 100 have already arrived. So far, those have been the Switchblade 300, a light single-use drone that fits in a backpack and is designed to attack personnel and light vehicles.
AeroVironment says in a factsheet that the Switchblade 300 cruises at around 100 km/h and carries cameras, guidance systems and explosives to dive-bomb into its target. It can fly for up to 15 minutes and 10 km before striking.
The kamikaze drone uses real-time GPS coordinates and video for "precise targeting with low collateral effects," the company says.
It’s launched from a tube and its small size allows it to take off from a variety of air, sea, and ground platforms. The whole kit - including the payload, launcher, and transport bag - weighs just 2.5 kg.
Unlike most weapons, the Switchblade can also disengage or abort a mission at any time, and then recommit to another target depending on what the operator commands.
This aims to ensure that strikes are precise and can be called off at the very last minute if they endanger civilians or properties nearby.
https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/...amikaze-weapons-and-how-can-they-help-ukraine
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Finally the Russian people are seeing through Putins' lies..
This is the extraordinary moment concert-goers in Russia's second-largest city chanted 'f** the war' as opposition to Putin's invasion of Ukraine grows.
Footage shows hundreds of people in a packed venue in St Petersburg repeatedly denouncing the war in Ukraine in a brazen show of defiance to Putin.
It is unclear exactly when the footage was filmed, but it was posted online at the weekend by a member of opposition politician Alexei Navalny's party.
The video emerged after rock singer Yuri Shevchuk was charged with 'discrediting' the military for giving an anti-war speech at a gig in the city of Perm last week.
In footage of that speech, which was also posted online, Shevchuk - lead singer of 1980s rock band DDT - can be heard telling the 8,000-strong crowd: 'The people of Ukraine are being murdered. For what?
'Our boys are dying over there. For what? What are the goals, my friends? For some Napoleonic plans of another Caesar of ours, yes?
'The motherland, my friends, is not the president’s a** that has to be slobbered and kissed all the time.'
Russian opposition to the war erupted shortly after Putin declared the start of his 'special military operation' back in February, with mass protests in Moscow and other large Russian cities.
But the despotic president reacted quickly with new laws to crack down on free speech, shuttering almost all opposition news outlets and arresting people at the rallies en masse.
Since then protests have been muted, though UK intelligence today predicted they will grow again as Russia's death toll mounts.
Video on this link.... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10844695/Ukraine-Thousands-chant-f-war-concert-Russia.html
This is the extraordinary moment concert-goers in Russia's second-largest city chanted 'f** the war' as opposition to Putin's invasion of Ukraine grows.
Footage shows hundreds of people in a packed venue in St Petersburg repeatedly denouncing the war in Ukraine in a brazen show of defiance to Putin.
It is unclear exactly when the footage was filmed, but it was posted online at the weekend by a member of opposition politician Alexei Navalny's party.
The video emerged after rock singer Yuri Shevchuk was charged with 'discrediting' the military for giving an anti-war speech at a gig in the city of Perm last week.
In footage of that speech, which was also posted online, Shevchuk - lead singer of 1980s rock band DDT - can be heard telling the 8,000-strong crowd: 'The people of Ukraine are being murdered. For what?
'Our boys are dying over there. For what? What are the goals, my friends? For some Napoleonic plans of another Caesar of ours, yes?
'The motherland, my friends, is not the president’s a** that has to be slobbered and kissed all the time.'
Russian opposition to the war erupted shortly after Putin declared the start of his 'special military operation' back in February, with mass protests in Moscow and other large Russian cities.
But the despotic president reacted quickly with new laws to crack down on free speech, shuttering almost all opposition news outlets and arresting people at the rallies en masse.
Since then protests have been muted, though UK intelligence today predicted they will grow again as Russia's death toll mounts.
Video on this link.... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10844695/Ukraine-Thousands-chant-f-war-concert-Russia.html
Don M.
SF VIP
- Location
- central Missouri
There may have been an assassination attempt on Putin, recently. Hopefully, there will be another....which succeeds. This nutcase is a ticking bomb whose actions could result in global disaster.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukrainia...ination-attempt-two-months-ago-124633685.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukrainia...ination-attempt-two-months-ago-124633685.html
From what I have read, Ukraine has lost over 2700 civilian lives and $600billion in damage to their country and have also lost approximately 5 million jobs Where will they get the money to rebuild, so they can get people back to work, which will take awhile, I am sure.
My wife and I were willing to sponsor a family of up to four people for 30 months through our church. The group we were working through rejected our application, along with two others in our church due to our age. No other reason was given. The group sponsoring the drive to obtain sponsors told us that we can either donate to Ukraine through the Red Cross or a few other organizations mentioned in the brochure that was handed to us. We decided that since 2 other families had been accepted to sponsor families that we would donate money directly to the families sponsoring to help with their expenses. No mention was made when they would get their family. I think the holdup is the state department's unwillingness to get this done. My wife had already purchased some things to give to the Ukraine family that we thought we would get, so now she will hand it over to any family that gets settled here with another U.S, family.
Tish
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Russian President Vladimir Putin survived an assassination attempt launched not long after he invaded Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s top military intelligence official.
Kyrylo Budanov told the Ukrainian newspaper Ukrainska Pravda: “There was an attempt to assassinate Putin” in March.
The newspaper also published an English version of the comments. Per Pravda’s translation, Budanov said:
“There was an attempt to assassinate Putin… He was even attacked, it is said, by representatives of the Caucasus, not so long ago. This is non-public information. [It was an] Absolutely unsuccessful attempt, but it really happened… It was about 2 months ago.
“I repeat, this attempt was unsuccessful. There was no publicity about this event, but it took place.”
Full Story
Kyrylo Budanov told the Ukrainian newspaper Ukrainska Pravda: “There was an attempt to assassinate Putin” in March.
The newspaper also published an English version of the comments. Per Pravda’s translation, Budanov said:
“There was an attempt to assassinate Putin… He was even attacked, it is said, by representatives of the Caucasus, not so long ago. This is non-public information. [It was an] Absolutely unsuccessful attempt, but it really happened… It was about 2 months ago.
“I repeat, this attempt was unsuccessful. There was no publicity about this event, but it took place.”
Full Story