To explain Ruzzia's nasty warfighting habits this well-produced series is a valuable and chilling insight - chilling as it shows that Putain is merely carrying on the same style of savage and inhuman warfare that Ruzzia has employed for centuries and even today shows no sign of changing their habitual inhuman barbarity of past ages.
It does not inspire confidence for the future.
https://www.pbsamerica.co.uk/series/russias-wars/

This is hot: Ukrainian bomber UAV with GPS guidance and ballistic computer.

Maybe they have enough prisoners to ask which ones want to go back. Some will

Video.​​​​​​​One of the Ukrainian drones that struck the Russian air base in Morozovsk (Rostov, Russia) yesterday came with a special message.

The drone had loudspeakers and played the German/Breton drinking song “Was wollen wir trinken” (what do we want to drink)

Ukraine hit another Russian oil pipe last night.

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Re the musical drone and the reason behind it.

Russia is trying to take advantage of the Ukrainian shortage of shells while it can. It does show how artillery has come back into vogue.

Aviation content:

Apparently the two Ukrainian BlackHawks operating in or near Belgorod, but judging by the poor dubbed on sound track I am dubious. Plus they were private purchases and nothing to do with US Supplied.

Fake clip if you ask me (and not only the Bell 47 sound).
AI, sim, whatever you call it.

:E

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We are starting the production of jet-powered drones. Large explosive charge.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....896c2bbc79.png

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UJ-25_Skyline

The UJ-25 is a weaponized version of the Ukrjet UJ-23 Topaz target drone. Both aircraft have missile-like main bodies, forward-swept wings, V-tail configurations, and top-mounted air intakes at the rear of the fuselage feeding into a turbojet engine; the UJ-25 differs outwardly only by having forward canards.

Although the Skyline's specifications are not known, the Topaz has a cruise speed of 600 km/h (370 mph), a top speed of 800 km/h (500 mph), endurance of 90 minutes, and a mission radius of 400 km (250 mi) with a payload weight of 10 kg (22 lb) and is guided either by manual control link or by following a preprogrammed route. As a one-way kamikazedrone, the UJ-25 could have a strike range of around 800 km (500 mi), long enough to reach Moscow.

​​​​​​​Its jet propulsion makes it harder to counter than piston engineShahed-136 drones used by Russia, as its faster speed combined with relatively small size and low-observable characteristics reduces the reaction time for air defenses to attempt to intercept it.

Just a short note, pro-Russian presidential candidate in Slovakia just won elections, apparently he was able to scare voters that the pro-western candidate would "send Slovak soldiers to fight to Ukraine". We saw heavy engagement of Russian players in the campaign. We are in the hybrid war indeed. This is bad news because protofascist regime of PM Fico was hereby strengthened. They may obstruct NATO and EU efforts in coordination with Orbán even more rigorously. In the long term we possibly may leave western structures altogether. I expect attacks on judicial branch and free media now and we may end as a puppet state of imperial Russia.

The whole thing is very alarming because even if Fico's government showed quite a horrible attacks on independent police or prosecutor offices, put secret service under yoke of a corrupt criminal and the whole government shows aggressive traits against liberal democracy system, the 53% of electorate seems to support this. Support of Ukraine is unlikely from our side and if they will undermine principles of rule of law they may survive even elections in 2027.

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish.

I wish there was a better reaction than "Like" to posts like Pali's - what a dire situation he and his countryfolk find themselves in. Very best wishes from an inhabitant - and citizen - of an old but occasionally dysfunctional democracy.

A truly sad state of affairs as has been said re the situation unfolding in Slovakia. The lack of a firm response to the attack on Ukraine in the first place, certainly since Feb 2022 (and even back to 2014), has bought Moscow time to influence its "near abroad" in the old ways. Where else are such moves happening? And, wrt to NATO, the security implications within the alliance are clear to see....... More than just spies in Brussels...... :hmm:

https://www.zona-militar.com/en/2024...ts-to-ukraine/

The USA has authorized Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands to transfer 65 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets to Ukraine

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives evaluated a series of notifications during the month of February proposing the transfer of 65 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon MLU fighter jets from Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands to Ukraine.

Despite the mentioned countries expressing their intention to donate the aircraft, the estimated cost of the initiatives amounts to USD 1.683.5 billion, including spare engines, simulators, manuals, tools, and various materials for operating and sustaining the F-16s.

From the summary of the Foreign Affairs Committee, it is revealed that Denmark will make available six F-16 Block 10, thirteen F-16 Block 15 aircraft, additional engines, and support equipment. The transfer is valued at USD 87.5 million. It is worth noting that the Danish government has not only been one of the promoters of the initiative to provide F-16s to Ukraine but is also one of the few countries training pilots and technical personnel.

Regarding the Danish F-16s, the Defense Ministers of Argentina and the Nordic country recently signed a letter of intent for the purchase of 24 F-16A/B MLU aircraft, an acquisition process that is expected to be formalized in the coming weeks with the signing of a contract. The Royal Danish Air Force upgraded a total of 61 F-16A/B aircraft to the MLU standard, a fleet that was reduced to about 44 aircraft a few years ago and is being replaced by 5th generation F-35A Lightning II fighters.

In the case of Norway, the transfer includes up to 22 F-16 Block 10/15 aircraft, engines, support equipment, test benches, tools, maintenance materials, simulators, spare parts, manuals, and technical documents, among others. The document mentions that the original acquisition value is approximately USD 1.326 billion. Norway has made available a couple of F-16s for the training of Ukrainian crews, while also forming a core group of instructors to support the Danish effort.

Finally, the case of the Dutch RSAT was also discussed. On this occasion, it mentions 24 F-16 Block 10/15 aircraft as well as similar supplementary materials to those of Norway. The Dutch initiative initially involved the transfer of 18 fighters, however, that number would be expanded after the decision to cancel the sale of another six aircraft to the company Draken.

The Netherlands has been another major proponent of the project to deliver F-16 fighters to the Ukrainian Air Force. In the early months, the Dutch government was willing to transfer its F-16s to third parties in order to release combat aircraft of Soviet origin. Although this initiative did not come to life, it was a first step for the project of the previously mentioned European countries.

The Dutch commitment is such that in the last week of March, the Ministry of Defense announced the purchase of air-to-air missiles for the F-16s donated to Ukraine, an initiative valued at USD 150 million. In this way, the European state confirmed once again its commitment to supporting Ukraine in the context of the armed conflict it faces with Russia.

It is necessary to remember that the idea of ​​transferring F-16s to Ukraine did not initially have the approval of Washington, it was a plan that matured over time until it received the green light. However, the USA has only committed to training Ukrainian personnel, leaving aside any intention related to the delivery of aircraft.

Interesting about Norway transferring so many.....given they retired all their F-16's over a year ago, and I thought they had already sold all their airworthy fleet to Romania?

Wow, these buckets of promises of jam tomorrow should keep Ukraine hopeful for a few more months at the very least.

Because of the dam collapse* - self inflicted rather than enemy action…

Another oil refinery in Russia has halted operations

The management of Orsknefteorgsintez has declared the suspension of activities at the local oil refinery due to flooding.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ba9263fdf3.png

* https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/...rst-dam-a84762
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Well, if that's the way Fico wants to play it, I suggest NATO would be better off with Slovakia OUT of NATO and Ukraine IN !