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Moscow has conducted long-range air strikes on targets in Ukraine since the start of its invasion last year. The Romanian Defence Ministry said Romania was not hit. "The ministry of defence categorically denies information from the public space regarding a so-called overnight situation during which Russian drones would have fallen in Romania's national territory," it said. "We heard the drones, the booms and the air defence systems across the river," she told Reuters by telephone. Ukraine has reported suspected Russian weapons flying over or crashing into neighbours, including NATO members, several times during the war.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Tayyip Erdogan, Oleg Nikolenko, Nikolenko, Daniela Tanase, Oksana Savchuk, Erdogan, Putin, Andriy Yermak, Yermak, Pavel Polityuk, Olena Harmash, Tom Balmforth, Luiza Ilie, Timothy Heritage, Peter Graff Organizations: Russia, NATO, Reuters, Facebook, Romanian Defence Ministry, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Romania, Bucharest, KYIV, BUCHAREST, Moscow, Ukraine's, Izmail, Romanian, Plauru, Russia, Poland, Ukrainian, Russia's Black, Sochi, Turkey, Kyiv

☆ Russia signs 280,000 for contract military service this year -Medvedev
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows a billboard promoting military service under the contract in Russian Armed Forces and containing information about payments, on a road in the Leningrad Region, Russia July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 3 (Reuters) - Some 280,000 people have signed up so far this year for professional service with Russia's military, the deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, former President Dmitry Medvedev, said on Sunday. Visiting Russia's Far East, Medvedev said he was meeting local officials to work on efforts to beef up the armed forces. "According to the Ministry of Defence, since Jan. 1, about 280,000 people have been accepted into the ranks of the Armed Forces on a contract basis," including reservists, state news agency TASS quoted Medvedev as saying. Some Russian lawmakers suggested Russia needs a professional army 7-million strong to ensure the country's security - a move that would require a huge budget allowance.

Persons: Anton Vaganov, Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Lidia Kelly, William Mallard Organizations: Russian Armed Forces, REUTERS, Russian Security Council, Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Leningrad Region, Russia, Melbourne

☆ Ukraine could have modified its anti-ship missiles into a long-range weapon to wreak havoc against Russian targets on land, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A modified R-360 Neptune anti-ship cruise missile may be Ukraine's new long-range missile. The new weapon reportedly destroyed a Russian S-400 "Triumf" missile system in Crimea. Ukraine developed the weapon after Western states were reluctant to supply long-range missiles. Ukraine claimed that the new, domestically designed missile system destroyed Putin's highly-prized Russian S-400 "Triumf" missile system in Crimea last month. The report said the cheap cost and large supply of the bombs meant they could be used extensively in the conflict.

Persons: Danilov, Zelenskyy, Sukhoi Su, Denis Sinyakov Organizations: Service, Kyiv Post, Russia flaunts, National Security and Defense, Directorate of Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, Luch, UK Ministry of Defence, NATO, Sukhoi, Zhukovsky REUTERS, Kyiv Independent Locations: Russian, Crimea, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Kyiv, Russia, Ukrainian, Screengrab, US, Moscow, Soviet, Zhukovsky

☆ Russia to recruit foreigners in neighboring countries to beef up its army depleted by 300,000 war casualties, says the UK Defense Ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia is outsourcing military recruitment to "avoid unpopular domestic mobilization measures," says UK MoD. The Kremlin wants to fill the growing gaps in army ranks foreigners and migrant workers. Russia's military casualties are approaching 300,000, say US officials. The campaign to exploit migrant workers and enlist men from neighboring countries precedes Russia's upcoming presidential election in 2024. Russia's military casualties are approaching 300,000, of which as many as 120,000 are deaths and up to 180,000 are injuries, US officials said last month.

Persons: OLGA MALTSEVA Organizations: MoD, Kremlin, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, Ministry, Getty Images, Ukraine, Central Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Saint Petersburg, AFP, Kazakhstani

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy moves to replace wartime defence minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov attend a meeting with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 7, 2023. Press Service of the Defence Ministry of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday he had decided to dismiss Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov from his post and would ask parliament this week to replace him with Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's main privatisation fund. The announcement, made in his nightly video address to the nation, sets the stage for the biggest shakeup of Ukraine's defence establishment during the war launched by Russia in February 2022. Oleksii Reznikov has been through more than 550 days of full-scale war," Zelenskiy said. The change of defence minister must be approved by parliament, but is likely to be supported by a majority of lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Oleksii Reznikov, Boris Pistorius, Rustem Umerov, Reznikov, I've, Zelenskiy, Umerov, Tom Balmforth, Anna Pruchnicka, Diane Craft Organizations: Defence, German, Press Service, Defence Ministry of, REUTERS, Rights, Defense, Verkhovna Rada, Property Fund, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Defence Ministry of Ukraine, Handout, Russia, Verkhovna, Crimean

☆ Why Ukraine is able to embarrass Russia's air defense systems, among the most advanced in the world, with small drones
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Recent drone attacks in Russia have exposed weaknesses in the country's advanced air defenses. As a result, smaller drones have been able to evade detection and strike targets on Russian soil. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe recent spate of attacks on Russian soil, however, are likely to be embarrassing for one of the world's foremost military powers. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussian air defense systems, which are among the most advanced in the world, are used by dozens of countries, and many have developed variations of them, according to the Center for Strategic and International studies. Ukraine can only use its own drones to strike inside Russia because of restrictions on using NATO weapons on Russian territory.

Persons: Samuel Bendett, Bendett Organizations: Service, Center for Naval, UK's Ministry of Defence, Center for Strategic, NATO Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Pskov, Moscow

☆ NATO-trained Ukrainian recruits admit they're being overpowered by Russia's battle-hardened troops in the northern sector, Kyiv Independent reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainians fighting in the northern sector of the frontline say they're buckling under Russia's attacks. Many of the troops were civilians before Russia's invasion and have just three weeks of NATO basic training. Other recruits the Kyiv Independent spoke to said three weeks of NATO basic training had left them underprepared for the reality of the situation on the ground. Meanwhile, Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops at the Kupiansk axis on the northern frontline, according to authorities in Kyiv. "Russian forces are likely seeking to distract Ukraine from its counteroffensive," the Ministry of Defence said on X Saturday.

Persons: Russia's, Igor Kossov, Volodymyr, he's, Ihor, Ukraine's, Vadim Ghirda Organizations: Kyiv Independent, Service, 32nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Independent, NATO, 32nd Brigade, AP, Ministry of Defence, MoD Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Kharkiv, Russia, Germany, Russian, Kupiansk, Kyiv, Ukrainian

FILE PHOTO-Former Indonesian education minister Anies Baswedan talks to reporters after voting in the Jakarta governor election in Jakarta, Indonesia April 19, 2017. REUTERS/Beawiharta/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan on Saturday named the chairman of Indonesia's largest Islamic party as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election, a move aimed at boosting his popularity in this Muslim majority country. His vice presidential pick, Muhaimin Iskandar, leads the National Awakening Party (PKB), which has strong ties with Indonesia's biggest Islamic organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), that boasts 40 million members. Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, a senior member of Prabowo's Gerindra party, said the announcement "automatically ended the political cooperation of Gerindra and PKB" but added his party respected Muhaimin's decision. Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Writing by Gayatri Suroyo; editing by Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Anies Baswedan, Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo Subianto, Joko, Muhaimin Iskandar, Prabowo, Anies, Djayadi Hanan, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Muhaimin, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Prabowo's, Ananda Teresia, Gayatri Suroyo, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Former Jakarta Governor, Saturday, Central Java, Defence, National Awakening Party, Indonesia's, Ulama, PKB, NU, Anies, Thomson Locations: Indonesian, Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, Surabaya, East Java

[1/2] Russian service members walk near a burnt car following recent shelling in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, September 1, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine said on Friday its troops had broken through Russia's first line of defences in several places, though they have then encountered even more heavily-fortified Russian positions. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said Kyiv's troops, in a much-vaunted counteroffensive against Russian forces, were advancing in the Zaporizhzhia region. Washington also said on Friday that Kyiv had made notable progress on the southern front in the last 72 hours. "They have achieved some success against that second line of Russian defenses," Kirby said, adding it was up to Ukraine on how to capitalize on that success.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Hanna Maliar, Maliar, John Kirby, Kirby, they've, Mykhailo Podolyak, Tom Balmforth, Trevor Hunnicitt, Susan Heavey, Peter Graff Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Deputy, Russian, White, National Security, Kyiv, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Donetsk, Russian, Zaporizhzhia, Washington, United States, Robotyne, Kyiv, Moscow

☆ Russia is likely rethinking its air defenses, UK intel says, after a string of embarrassing strikes deep within its territory
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Drone attacks on airfields in Russia are likely forcing it to reshape its air defense, UK intel said. Airfields and other locations deep within Russian territory have been pummeled in multiple strikes by exploding drone attacks in recent weeks — with one flurry, on the night of August 29, striking five separate locations. In August alone 25 places in Russia came under drone attack, the UK MOD said, even penetrating the defenses around Moscow. "Russia will have to consider the addition of further air defence systems to airfields that it considers to be at risk from UAV attacks," the UK MoD said. Russia has blamed the attacks on Ukraine, which generally doesn't claim responsibility for attacks on Russian soil.

Persons: Insider's Sinéad Baker, recrimination, Baker, Bob Hamilton, Ben Hodges, Insider's Erin Snodgrass Organizations: intel, Service, UK's Ministry of Defence, Center for Strategic, MOD, MoD, US Army, Foreign, Research, Eurasia Program, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Tupolev, Russia Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Ukraine, Ukrainian, US Army Europe

☆ Wallace confirms resignation as UK defence minister in letter to PM Sunak
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

British Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace walks on Downing Street on the day of the last cabinet meeting before the summer recess, in London, Britain, July 18, 2023. REUTERS/Anna Gordon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Ben Wallace confirmed his resignation as defence minister on Thursday in a letter to Rishi Sunak, offering the government his continued support while warning the British prime minister not to see defence as a "discretionary spend". In his official resignation letter, Wallace renewed his appeal for the government not to turn to defence to make spending cuts. Sunak praised Wallace for his work, saying in a letter in response: "You have served our country in three of the most demanding posts in government: defence secretary, security minister and Northern Ireland minister." A former captain in the British army, Wallace, 53, was appointed as defence minister in 2019 by his friend and ally, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson after holding junior ministerial roles in earlier governments.

Persons: Defence Ben Wallace, Anna Gordon, Ben Wallace, Rishi Sunak, Wallace, Jens Stoltenberg, hollowing, Sunak, Boris Johnson, Johnson, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Muvija M, Elizabeth Piper, Kate Holton, Alex Richardson Organizations: State, Defence, REUTERS, NATO, Conservative Party, Ministry of Defence, Northern, Twitter, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Ukraine, Norwegian, Northern Ireland, Russia, Kyiv

☆ Hundreds of Russian soldiers are going AWOL and refusing to fight as morale plummets, UK intelligence says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's conviction rate for AWOL soldiers soared to 100 a week, UK officials said. Mediazona, citing data from the websites of military courts as of July 19, reported a dramatic increase in cases of Russian soldiers absent without official leave (AWOL) since March 2023. By June, Russian military courts were handing out 100 sentences per week, the outlet said. "Although some soldiers have refused to fight and attrition rates remain high, Russia highly likely mitigates their loss by committing a mass of poorly trained soldiers to the frontline." In addition to low morale, the respected Institute for the Study of War think tank stated last week that the Russian military is suffering from infighting and shortages.

Persons: Mediazona Organizations: Service, UK Ministry of Defence, Russian Army, Russian, MoD, Central, New York Times Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Moscow

☆ Russian military repelling drone attack in Pskov, four planes damaged -officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 30 (Reuters) - Russia's military is repelling a drone attack at an airport in the airport in the city of Pskov in western Russia, where four transport aircraft were damaged, officials said early on Wednesday. "The Ministry of Defence is repelling a drone attack on Pskov airport," Pskov Governor Mikhail Vedernikov wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Tass news agency, quoting emergency services, said four Il-76 transport aircraft, long the workhorse of the Russian military, were damaged at the military airfield. "As a result of the drone attack, four Il-76 aircraft were damaged. Videos posted by Russian media showed thick black smoke rising over the airport.

Persons: Mikhail Vedernikov, Maria Tsvetkova, Ron Popeski Organizations: Ministry of Defence, Tass, Russian, Thomson Locations: Pskov, Russia, Latvia, Estonia, New York, Lincoln

☆ Ukraine's military medical care has been superior to Russia's, but the lasting Soviet doctrine of simply throwing waves of soldiers at your enemies could help make up for it
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Military medicine experts told Insider Ukraine's medical care in war has been better than Russia's. But Ukraine's medical advantage could be undercut by the sheer number of potential Russian soldiers. The UK's MOD said last year that Russian soldiers were being advised to use women's sanitary products as first aid supplies. AdvertisementAdvertisementAnother concern when it comes to battlefield medical care is how close the wounded are to a hospital. But for Russian and Soviet soldiers, medical support has largely seemed to be an afterthought.

Persons: Russia's, —, Aaron Epstein, Epstein's, Epstein, Tanisha Fazal, Fazal, Fazel Organizations: Service, Global, UK Ministry of Defence, MOD, University of Minnesota Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Soviet

☆ Russia more than doubled salaries of some soldiers but is still struggling to recruit people to fight in Ukraine, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia, which has struggled to recruit soldiers, likely still won't get as many as it wants, the MoD said. Russia has done one major mobilization of fighters since the invasion began, declaring a "partial mobilization" of 300,000 reservists in September. It said in May that Russia likely wants to delay the announcement of any obvious mandatory mobilization "to minimize domestic dissent." And it said Russia was focusing on recruiting Central Asian migrant workers that are in Russia to go and fight in Ukraine. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia also tried to recruit from neighboring country Kazakhstan, offering a sign-on bonus of 495,000 rubles, which is around $5,200.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin Organizations: UK's Ministry of Defence, MoD, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, Russian Armed Forces, Russian, Central Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Kazakhstan

CNN —Three US marines have been killed and others injured after an Osprey aircraft crashed during military exercises in Australia, officials said Sunday. A history of crashesPrevious crashes of Osprey aircraft, according to CNN reporting and US Defense Department press releases:July 20, 1992: Seven people are killed during testing when an Osprey crashes in Virginia. June 13, 2012: An Air Force CV-22 Osprey crashes during a routine training mission north of Navarre, Florida, injuring five. August 5, 2017: An MV-22B Osprey crashes off the coast of Australia, leaving three Marines deadSeptember 28, 2017: A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey crashes in Syria, injuring two service members. June 8, 2022: Five US Marines die after an MV-22 Osprey crashes during a training mission Wednesday near Glamis, California

Persons: Darwin, “, Natasha Fyles, ” Fyles, Michael Murphy, Bellows Organizations: CNN, Osprey, Royal Darwin Hospital, Marine, Marines, Northern, Marine Osprey, Northern Territory Police, Australian Department of Defence, NATo, Marine Corps, US Defense Department, US Air Force, An Air Force, Corps Locations: Australia, Melville, Darwin, Tiwi, Glamis , California, Norway, Syria, Virginia, Arizona, North Carolina, Afghanistan, Morocco, Navarre , Florida, Oahu, Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan, Glamis, California

☆ Russia and Ukraine are battling it out over gas and oil platforms in the Black Sea, UK Ministry of Defence says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia and Ukraine are battling over strategic gas and oil platforms in the Black Sea. The Black Sea is a key spot in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and it has become a hotbed of military activity in the war. Ukraine has also struck several Russian-controlled platforms in the Black Sea, including three gas platforms that Russia had converted into "small garrisons." AdvertisementAdvertisementLast year, military expert Oleg Zhdanov said that the towers were like the "ears and eyes of the Russian Black Sea Fleet," according to Offshore Energy. Ukraine has also used many of its hi-tech sea drones in the area, with Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov saying they had successfully paralyzed Russia's Black Sea fleet using the drones.

Persons: Oleg Zhdanov, Kyrylo Budanov, Russia's Organizations: Service, UK Ministry of Defence, Twitter, Offshore Energy Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Crimea, Odesa, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ 'Tragic' crash injures 23 US Marines in Australia exercises
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Samuel Mckeith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Twenty-three U.S. Marines were injured during military exercises in northern Australia on Sunday, officials said, in a helicopter crash that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called "tragic". One marine was being operated on at Royal Darwin hospital and four others were at the hospital, said Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles. Some people are critically injured," Fyles told the news conference, adding there was a "wide range" of injuries. Australian personnel were not involved in the crash that occurred during Exercise Predator's Run 2023, Albanese said. Four Australian soldiers were killed last month during large bilateral exercises when their helicopter crashed into the ocean off the coast of Queensland.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Michael Murphy, Murphy, Natasha Fyles, Fyles, Albanese, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Marines, Northern Territory Police, Australian Defence Force, U.S . Marines, Royal Darwin, The U.S . Defense, Thomson Locations: Australia, Darwin, Northern, Western Australia, The, U.S, China, Queensland, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ With Prigozhin dead, Putin has traded low-budget global reach for safety at home
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

On Friday, the Kremlin's spokesperson said the idea that Russian President Vladimir Putin was behind the Wednesday plane crash that killed Yevgeny Prigozhin was "a complete lie." It was unavoidable payback for Prigozhin's insubordination, which culminated in a march towards Moscow with a column of his Wagner Group mercenaries. AdvertisementAdvertisementThose files were obtained from anonymous hackers who had pried them loose from the Wagner Group. Russia uses the Wagner Group to boost its military strength, but it is nothing like a conventional fighting force or diplomatic corps. Other reports suggest that the job replacing Wagner in Africa will fall to the GRU, Russia's military intelligence unit.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Prigozhin, Prigozhin's, he'd, —, Putin, grandiosity, they'd, Alexander Lukashenko, James, Mattathias Schwartz Organizations: Wednesday, Wagner Group, Saint, Kremlin, Group, Central African, YouTube, Google, Wagner, Saint Petersburg, ISIS, Russia, Wall Street Journal, Russia's Ministry of Defence Locations: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Central African Republic, Russian, Ukraine, East, Africa, Saint, China, Belarus, Russia's

☆ 'Putin's vulture': Why the Ka-52 attack helicopter is one of Russia's most influential weapon systems
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Russia's Ka-52 attack helicopter has been imposing a high cost on Ukraine's counteroffensive this summer. AdvertisementAdvertisementIt can also serve as a surveillance platform and an aerial command center for a fleet of attack helicopters. While some military experts say the US Apache helicopter is superior to the Ka-52, the Russian helicopter gunship is highly rated. In its review of the top nine attack helicopters, Military-Today.com wrote: "The Ka-52 is one of the fastest and most maneuverable attack helicopters due to its two coaxial contra-rotating main rotors. A video appears to show one of the Ka-52 attack helicopters being downed, revealing Russia's weakness, a former US general told Insider.

Persons: Russia's Ka, Ukraine's, Today.com, ALEXANDER NEMENOV, Insider's Ryan Pickrell, Andriy Yermak, Maxym Organizations: Russian, Service, Kremlin, Kyiv Post, Kamov, Russian Helicopters, Airforce Technology, US Apache, Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, AP, Military Factory, Russia, Getty, UK Ministry of Defence, Twitter, Ukrainian, Russian Ministry of Defense, Royal United Services Institute, Forbes Locations: Ukrainian, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Ukraine, AFP, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, London, American, Russia

☆ 'Highly likely' Wagner boss Prigozhin dead but no definitive proof yet -UK
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - There is not yet definitive proof that Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was onboard a plane that crashed with no survivors earlier this week but it is "highly likely" he is dead, Britain's Ministry of Defence said on Friday. "There is not yet definitive proof that Prigozhin was onboard and he is known to exercise exceptional security measures. However, it is highly likely that he is indeed dead," the British ministry said in a defence intelligence update posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "The demise of Prigozhin would almost certainly have a deeply destabilising effect on the Wagner Group. His personal attributes of hyper-activity, exceptional audacity, a drive for results and extreme brutality permeated Wagner and are unlikely to be matched by any successor."

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Dimitry Utkin, Valery Chekalov, Kylie MacLellan, Farouq Suleiman, Kate Holton Organizations: Britain's Ministry of Defence, Wagner Group, Thomson Locations: Moscow

General Sergei Surovikin, commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, visits the Joint Headquarters of the Russian armed forces involved in military operations in Ukraine, in an unknown location in Russia, in this picture released December 17, 2022. His reported removal suggests the authorities found fault with his behaviour, but the details of his alleged wrongdoing remain unknown. Surovikin earned the nickname "General Armageddon" during Russia's military intervention in Syria for the brutal tactics he employed there. He was placed in charge of Russian military operations in Ukraine last October, but in January that role was handed to General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff, and Surovikin was made a deputy to Gerasimov. Afzalov was previously deputy to Surovikin and has been chief of staff of the Aerospace Forces for at least four years, according to British military intelligence.

Persons: Sergei Surovikin, Surovikin, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Russian Air and Space Forces Sergei Surovikin, Viktor Afzalov, General Valery Gerasimov, Afzalov, Andrew Osborn, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS, RBC, Telegram, Ministry of Defence, Russian Air and Space Forces, Main Staff of, Air Force, Reuters, Aerospace Forces, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Kremlin, MOSCOW, Moscow, Syria, Gerasimov, Surovikin

☆ Opinion: Who the drone attacks on Russia are really aimed at
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Sheena Mckenzie | Opinion Jade Mcglynn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Jade McGlyn Jade McGlynIt is the latest in more than 140 suspected Ukrainian drone attacks directed against Russia and its occupying forces on Ukrainian territory this year, according to the BBC. Does that mean the drone attacks are strategically pointless? Investigators work near a damaged roof following a reported Ukrainian drone shot down in Moscow, Russia, on Friday, August 18. Unlike in Russia, Ukraine’s population is not passive or depoliticised, as shown by its heroic fight for its sovereignty. The drone attacks probably won’t turn Russians against the war.

Persons: Jade McGlynn, “, Read, McGlyn, Volodymyr Zelensky, arrogate, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s, Igor Girkin, Shamil Zhumatov, pacifying, Vladimir Kara Murza, ”, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov Organizations: Center for Strategic, International Studies, CNN, Russia, BBC, Malaysia Airlines Flight, Kremlin, of Defence, Armed Forces, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Putin’s Russia, Russia, Ukrainian, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian

☆ Ukraine is re-engineering a 36-foot-long Soviet-era missile system to strike inside Russia, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine is repurposing the Soviet-era S-200 surface-to-air missile system to strike inside Russia. The weapon, which weighs 7.5 tons and is 36 feet long, is used for ground attacks, the UK MoD says. The weapon also called the S-200 surface-to-air missile system, weighs 7.5 tons and is 36 feet long. Forbes reported in July that Kyiv might be repurposing the obsolete weapons for ground attacks to replace its diminishing stockpile of Tochka ballistic missiles. A video showed what appears to be a V-860 or V-880 missile, the munition used in the S-200 system, hitting the ground in Bryansk Oblast in Russia, just north of the border with Ukraine.

Persons: Forbes, Vladimir Putin Organizations: MoD, Russia's Aerospace Forces, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, GAMMON Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Soviet, Moscow, Kyiv, Bryansk Oblast, Crimea

☆ Ukraine sends its US-supplied Stryker combat vehicles into battle for the first time in the counteroffensive against Russia, say reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Stryker combat vehicle is officially in action near the Zaporizhzhia frontline. The US-supplied vehicles can be outfitted with various weapons and move quickly while carrying soldiers. Its impressive arsenal includes 90 US-supplied Stryker vehicles, 40 German-produced Marders, 24 US M113 infantry carriers, as well as 14 British Challenger tanks, Politico reported. A US Army Stryker armored vehicle fires a Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided missile at Fort Polk in Louisiana in June 2009. There are 18 variants of the combat vehicle, and more than 4,900 have been built in the last 20 years by General Dynamics.

Persons: –, Jimmy Rushton, Michael Clarke, Victor Ayala Organizations: Stryker, Service, Air Assault Brigade, Kyiv Post, 82nd Brigade, NATO, US, British Challenger, Politico, Challenger, US Army Stryker, US Army, Spc, Pentagon, Kyiv, General Dynamics, New York Times, Ministry of Defence, Russian Federation Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russian, Zaporizhzhia Region, Kyiv, Fort Polk, Louisiana, Zaporizhzhia

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