Russia-Ukraine War

[Sovereign01]

In more positive news, here's the dramatic moment an advanced Russian attack helicopter, dubbed the ‘Alligator’, is downed by Ukraine’s forces.

Footage shows the successful attack using a portable anti-aircraft missile launcher dispatched by the Swedish army.

A Ukrainian fighter can be heard ordering ‘Shoot’ and just seconds later a jubilant voice yells ‘Got him’.

Costing upwards of £12.5 million, the Ka-52 – hailed by the Kremlin as ‘the world’s best helicopter gunship’ – can be seen plunging to the ground in a fireball.

A video of the aftermath shows fire and smoke spewing from the downed aircraft.

The incident is reported to have happened in August at a field near the recently-liberated Robotyne, in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Footage from Telegram channel War Gonzo showed how – as the ‘Alligator’ was in flames in a field – a Russian transport helicopter flew close and landed.

The pilot was able to run with two rescuers intohelicopter even as thick black smoke poured from his aircraft.

‘Immediately after the crash of the helicopter at the site moved an Mi-28, which surveyed the area, established the location of the survivor and sent a signal for evacuation,’ said the channel.

‌’A short time later, a transport helicopter landed on the field and picked up the pilot.’

The Ka-52 is capable of eliminating ground targets such as tanks, armored and unarmored vehicles and slow-moving airborne targets, according to Airforce Technology.

As troops inch closer to the frontline as part of the three-month counteroffensive, their effectiveness has been thrust into the spotlight.

Ukrainian forces reported the downing of two ‘Alligators’, one near Robytyne, and the other in the vicinity of Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region.

Altogether Russia is believed to have lost nine such strike helicopters in the war with Ukraine.

[Sovereign01]

Cardboard drones, anyone?

The Conversation /
By Paul Cureton
Posted Sun 3 Sep 2023 at 2:44pm

Innovative design choices can have a massive impact in the theatre of war, so it is important to understand the principles behind their development. Recent use of low-cost cardboard drones by Ukraine, supplied by Australia, to attack targets in Russia is a good example of how this can work.

Australia has been supplying Ukraine with 100 of the drones per month from March this year as part of an aid package deal worth an estimated $30 million, following an agreement struck in July 2021, according to the Australian Army Defence Innovation Hub.

Emerging technologies tend to override current technologies, and in turn, this generates competitive counter-technologies. This circular relationship driven by innovation is often critical in warfare as it can provide key technological advances.

Drone technology was originally developed for military use. It was then seen to offer opportunities in the civilian sphere for logistics, delivery and disaster relief. This then in turn has offered new innovations that can translate to military applications.

Conflicts in the future will be particularly shaped by drones, which will have implications for international relations, security and defence.

The Australian firm Sypaq, an engineering and solutions company founded in 1992, created the Corvo Precision Payload Delivery System (PPDS) for use in military, law enforcement, border security and emergency services, as well as food security, asset inspection and search and rescue.

Ukrainian forces reportedly used the PDDS cardboard drones in an attack on an airfield in Kursk Oblast in western Russia on August 27. The attack damaged a Mig-29 and four Su-30 fighter jets, two Pantsir anti-aircraft missile launchers, gun systems, and an S-300 air surface-to-air missile defence system.

Design principles

The design principles behind the success of the drones revolve around several factors including the production cost, airframe material, weight, payload, range, deployment and ease of use. Other considerations include the reliability of the operating software and the ability to fly the drone in various weather conditions.

Generally, small drones offer high-resolution imagery for reconnaissance in a rapidly changing theatre of war. The Corvo drone has a high-resolution camera that provides images covering a large area, transmitting footage back to its user in real time.

The importance of real-time mapping is critical in modern agile armed forces’ command and control as this can direct ground forces, heavy weapons and artillery.

In some cases, the design of small drones is concentrated on adapting the payloads to carry different types of munitions, as seen in the attack in Kursk.

The cardboard drones can carry 5kg of weight, have a wingspan of two metres and a range of 120km at a reported cost of US$3,500 ($5,300). Waxed cardboard is an ideal material as it offers weather resistance, flat-pack transportation (measuring 510mm by 760mm) and, importantly, a lightweight airframe, which enables a longer flight range and a high cruise speed of 60km/h.

Fixed-wing drones also offer longer ranges than rotor-based drones as the wings generate the lift and the airframe has less drag, so they are more energy efficient. They can also fly at higher altitudes. The drones can be launched from a simple catapult or by hand and so can be rapidly deployed.

Low-tech material, hi-tech thinking

Radar involves the transmission of electromagnetic waves, and these are reflected off any object back to a receiving antenna. Cardboard is generally harder to detect by radar — but its components, such as the battery, can be detected.

But the Corvo drone is likely to have a small signature. Radar-absorbing materials are needed to have full stealth properties. These polymers have various absorbing qualities to avoid radar detection.

Another design principle is the swarming capability of the drone. Swarms of drones can overpower air defence systems through sheer volume or can be used as decoys in counterintelligence operations.

Swarms are highly reliant on the development of artificial intelligence, which is still an embryonic research area. But a recent drone race at ETH University in Zurich, in which AI-piloted drone beat drones controlled by world-champion drone racers, highlighted this potential.

All of these design principles and innovations have and are continuing to transform warfare and theatre operations. It is likely that small drones at low cost are likely to have further mission success in the future.

Paul Cureton is a senior lecturer in design (people, places, products) at Lancaster University. This piece first appeared on The Conversation.

[Sovereign01]

At least 17 killed and dozens wounded after Ukraine market missile attack

A Russian missile attack has killed at least 17 people and wounded dozens more in a market in eastern Ukraine, officials have said.

Power lines, 20 shops, an administrative building and the floor of an apartment building were damaged in the blast, that was caught on CCTV.

At least 17 people were killed and 32 more were wounded in the blast, and crews continue to search the rubble for any trapped civilians, authorities said.

Ukraine's minister of internal affairs, Ihor Klymenko reported that emergency workers extinguished the flames that burned an area of 300 square meters (3,200 square feet).

The fatal attack came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kyiv and was expected to announce more than $1 billion in new American funding.

Mr Blinken's visit was also aimed at assessing Ukraine’s three month-old counteroffensive and signal continued backing from the US.

It comes as some Western allies have expressed concerns about Kyiv’s slow progress in driving out Russian forces after 18 months of war, according to US officials.

"We want to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs, not only to succeed in the counteroffensive but has what it needs for the long-term, to make sure that it has a strong deterrent," Mr Blinken said.

"We’re also determined to continue to work with our partners as they build and rebuild a strong economy, strong democracy."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that US assistance to Ukraine “can’t influence the course of the special military operation.”

Mr Blinken arrived in Kyiv for an overnight visit hours after Russia launched a missile attack on the city.

He was expected to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials to discuss the ongoing counteroffensive and reconstruction efforts.

Overnight, Russia fired cruise missiles at Kyiv in its first aerial attack on the capital since August 30, according to Serhii Popko, the head of Kyiv’s regional military administration.

Debris from a downed missile struck a business in the capital, causing a fire and damage, but there were no casualties reported.

In the Odesa region, one person was killed in a Russian missile and drone attack on the port of Izmail that damaged grain elevators, administrative buildings and agricultural enterprises, authorities said.

The war could stretch deep into next year and beyond, according to experts.

Both Russia and Ukraine will have to assess their supply shortages, with more battles of attrition likely over the winter.

Ukrainian forces are advancing without air cover, making their progress harder and slower, while Russia has launched its own push in the northeast to pin down Ukrainian forces and prevent them being redeployed in the south.

Ukraine has adapted its tactics in recent weeks, moving from attempts to bludgeon its way through Russian lines with Western-supplied armor to better-planned tactical strikes that make incremental gains, according to the think tank, Royal United Services Institute.

[burger1]

Looks like Romania is starting to admit Russian drone may have hit it's territory.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... ar-ukraine

Ukraine mysteriously gets another 1 billion dollar aid package and more weapons in a surprise visit after the drone strike. Likely to get another 24 billion dollar aid package by the end of September.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/06/-blinke ... s-aid.html

US and Armenia doing a joint military exercise. Apparently not happy with Russia's security guarantees going unfulfilled during the attack by Azerbaijan and other actions by Azerbaijan.

https://www.reuters.com/world/armenia-u ... 023-09-06/

[Sovereign01]

Looks like Romania is starting to admit Russian drone may have hit it's territory.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... ar-ukraine

Ukraine mysteriously gets another 1 billion dollar aid package and more weapons in a surprise visit after the drone strike. Likely to get another 24 billion dollar aid package by the end of September.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/06/-blinke ... s-aid.html

US and Armenia doing a joint military exercise. Apparently not happy with Russia's security guarantees going unfulfilled during the attack by Azerbaijan and other actions by Azerbaijan.

https://www.reuters.com/world/armenia-u ... 023-09-06/

How is that mysterious?

[Warenwolf]

How is that mysterious?

I don't think he meant it literally.

Anyway.....

https://twitter.com/laowaiaround/status ... 8372903055

General Andrei Mordvichev interview:
- The war will take a long time. There is no point in talking specific dates... If we talk about Eastern Europe, what we have to do - of course it will take longer...
- Is just a stage?
- Yes, exactly. It's just the beginning.

No comment needed.

[EGO_Aut]

Oh, i would like to comment
You failed with your war strategy if you make no progress after 6 month.
East europe gets more and more far away with every day that goes by.
RU knows now that you can start a war, but not end whenever you want.
The war did start in UKR, and it will end there if you ask me.

After the war RU need to sell Kaliningrad and Krim to EU, if a revolt will be sucsessful

[burger1]

Rumour: Russian kilo class submarine hit.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2 ... 13178e7795

Rumour: Starlink might have gone out during the attack again? Elon Musk turning off starlink to prevent large drone attacks on Russia again? An investigation might be underway.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/di ... r-AA1gC1wp

Ukraine's still gaining ground. Pretty bloody though.

[mr.WHO]

Rumour: Russian kilo class submarine hit.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2 ... 13178e7795

I love how Ukraine that barelly got any navy, that got it completely destroyed in first days, still is able to keep up with Russian navy


Still, one day we'll get Leo 1 vs T-55 duel of titans:
https://twitter.com/DefMon3/status/1700996350429868067

Notice cool shockwave tunel on the ground created by flying shell in 2:03.

[fiksal]

Rumour: Starlink might have gone out during the attack again? Elon Musk turning off starlink to prevent large drone attacks on Russia again? An investigation might be underway.

Musk is unsurprisingly a Putin sympathizer. If you can't sue him for some contract breach, better to look into other Internet alternatives.

On the positive, thanks for nailing that coffin for me, will stay away from Musk products and choose others.

[Observe]

Musk is unsurprisingly a Putin sympathizer. If you can't sue him for some contract breach, better to look into other Internet alternatives.

My understanding is that Starlink terms of service prohibits use for offensive military action. That's why SpaceX is building Starshield for control and use by the US government. Neither Musk, nor SpaceX ever promised coverage over Crimea. Service wasn't turned off, it wasn't turned on to start with. Musk simply doesn't want to be responsible for escalating the war further and he has every right to that position.

As for Musk being a Putin sympathizer, there is no evidence for that. To the contrary, he has been at loggerheads with Russia since when he first went over there attempting to purchase a Russian rocket before he created SpaceX. I too am against escalating the war. Does that make me and everyone else who wants this war to stop, a Putin sympathizer? I think not!

[burger1]

Looks like direct hits on the submarine and boat in the dry dock. Also looks like other equipment was damaged/obliterated.

https://twitter.com/GloOouD/status/1702 ... 03822?s=20

Crimea might run out of fuel?

[clakclak]

[...]

As for Musk being a Putin sympathizer, there is no evidence for that. To the contrary, he has been at loggerheads with Russia since when he first went over there attempting to purchase a Russian rocket before he created SpaceX. I too am against escalating the war. Does that make me and everyone else who wants this war to stop, a Putin sympathizer? I think not!

Yeah sure, he is oppossed to Putin and his action do not directly benefit Russia at all. This is also reflected with how badly high ranking Russian officials talk about him. Dmitry Medvedev for example called him: "the last adequate mind in North America" and just yesterday Putin called him a "an outstanding person. This must be recognised, and I think it is recognised all over the world." Clearly they loathe and hate him!

[EGO_Aut]

It is much easier, who gave Elon the order to do that?

[Observe]

It is much easier, who gave Elon the order to do that?

I think it was the U.S. government, in response to a request from Ukraine, who asked Musk to activate Starlink over the Crimea region. Elon refused, because Starlink is intended to be used for civilian, not military purposes and because he didn't want to be responsible for a major escalation of the war using his company. Apparently, Crimea had coverage at one time, but Starlink was turned off because of sanctions against Russia. According to Musk, despite sanctions restrictions he would have activated Starlink over Crimea if the directive had came from President Biden directly.

[mr.WHO]

Here is something good to recap famous past operation:

Siege of Mariupol - Animated Analysis (47 minutes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw3JFbeF8Vs

[burger1]

Starlink is not just a civilan satellite network the military uses it also and there's starshield which isn't as great as it sounds. Starlink is also under military contract and receives money from governments for usage in Ukraine.

[Observe]

Starlink is not just a civilan satellite network the military uses it also

True. SpaceX has donated 10's of thousands of Starlink terminals and millions of dollars worth of free access to Ukraine, as well as providing technical assistance to Ukraine's military. About what we would expect from a Putin lover!

[Sovereign01]

Russian troops 'shot in friendly fire as retreat mistaken for attack'

Over two dozen Russian soldiers have been shot dead by their own comrades, who mistook their 'chaotic' retreat for a Ukrainian assault, according to reports. Kyiv MP Yuriy Mysiagin has claimed that Vladimir Putin's troops fired on their own men as they 'retreated to new positions chaotically and almost in a panic.'

Russian forces assumed their troops were enemy soldiers attempting to retake territory near the Donetsk airport, he said, as Ukraine steps up its counteroffensive in the occupied south and east. Artillery fire then came down on the fleeing troops, he said on Telegram, resulting in high numbers of casualties and the loss of 'several pieces of equipment'. 'The result was 27 dead and 34 wounded,' Mysiagin said, 'Approximately half of the wounded had their arms or legs blown off.'

[fiksal]

Russian troops 'shot in friendly fire as retreat mistaken for attack'

Over two dozen Russian soldiers have been shot dead by their own comrades, who mistook their 'chaotic' retreat for a Ukrainian assault, according to reports. Kyiv MP Yuriy Mysiagin has claimed that Vladimir Putin's troops fired on their own men as they 'retreated to new positions chaotically and almost in a panic.'

Russian forces assumed their troops were enemy soldiers attempting to retake territory near the Donetsk airport, he said, as Ukraine steps up its counteroffensive in the occupied south and east. Artillery fire then came down on the fleeing troops, he said on Telegram, resulting in high numbers of casualties and the loss of 'several pieces of equipment'. 'The result was 27 dead and 34 wounded,' Mysiagin said, 'Approximately half of the wounded had their arms or legs blown off.'

All for the greater good, for the "Russian" "world" I am sure.

a Putin lover!

This is getting into too deep of an analysis of Musk way more than I care to do. He is not that important, nor looks like a sharpest knife in a cupboard to me.


So what are we talking about here, in short

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/elon-musk- ... -1.6557176

Elon Musk's refusal to have Starlink support Ukraine attack in Crimea raises questions for Pentagon

Excerpts of a new biography of Musk published by The Washington Post last week revealed that the Ukrainians in September 2022 had asked for the Starlink support to attack Russian naval vessels based at the Crimean port of Sevastopol. Musk had refused due to concerns that Russia would launch a nuclear attack in response. Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and claims it as its territory.

Musk was not on a military contract when he refused the Crimea request; he'd been providing terminals to Ukraine for free in response to Russia's February 2022 invasion. However, in the months since, the U.S. military has funded and officially contracted with Starlink for continued support. The Pentagon has not disclosed the terms or cost of that contract, citing operational security.

...

Until Musk's refusal in Ukraine, there had not been a focus on whether there needed to be language saying a firm providing military support in war had to agree that that support could be used in combat.

"We acquire technology, we acquire services, required platforms to serve the Air Force mission, or in this case, the Department of the Air Force," said Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics. "So that is an expectation, that it is going to be used for Air Force purposes, which will include, when necessary, to be used to support combat operations."

I think the flaw in my statement was about a "contract", there was none so I should've not said it. That's because I didnt check. So I retract that part.
The other part - he is not neutral in this conflict, and there are only two sides. If he cant make up what side he is on, then he is on the wrong side, otherwise should've just stayed neutral.

Now starlink is under contract and now starlink is used for military purposes.


https://www.npr.org/2022/10/04/11267148 ... -zelenskyy

argued in a tweet Monday that to reach peace Russia should be allowed to keep the Crimea Peninsula that it seized in 2014. He also said Ukraine should adopt a neutral status, dropping a bid to join NATO following Russia's partial mobilization of reservists.

...

Musk wrote in another tweet. "Russia has (over) 3 times population of Ukraine, so victory for Ukraine is unlikely in total war. If you care about the people of Ukraine, seek peace."

He somewhere between ultra naive and a Kremlin enabler. Could he be a Putin lover? Why not. Or maybe he just likes to talk a lot to stay relevant.

I am having a hard time seeing much difference - is Musk even a worthy of a conversation?