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☆ A retired US general was scathing about Russia's performance in Ukraine: 'Their navy sucks, their air force sucks'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ben Hodges, a retired US general, slammed the Russian military over its lack of progress in Ukraine. A retired US general slammed Russia's performance in Ukraine, even as President Vladimir Putin's forces seized hold of a key town in the east of the country. Hodges' statements come at an extremely perilous moment for Ukraine's defense. Hodges has argued that US spending on Ukraine's defense is extremely cost-effective for American interests. Despite not being able to make any significant territorial gains in 2023, Ukraine has kept up steady pressure, notably on Russia's air force and navy.

Persons: Ben Hodges, Hodges, Vladimir Putin's, they've, there's Organizations: United States Army, Kyiv, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, UK's Ministry of Defence, Russia, The Telegraph Locations: Ukraine, Russia, US, United States Army Europe, Avdiivka, Crimea, Donbas

☆ After Retreat, Ukraine Digs in to Repel New Russian Attacks in East
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 Images"The Ukrainian military has established itself on new lines of defence and is successfully repelling attempts by the Russian invaders to develop an offensive," Brigadier-General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi wrote on Telegram messenger. The capture of Avdiivka pushes Ukrainian forces further from the Russian-held bastion city of Donetsk, an important logistics hub used by Moscow to support its operations across partially-occupied eastern Ukraine, a region known as the Donbas. Serhiy Zgurets, director of the Kyiv-based Defence Express consultancy, predicted Russian forces would try to "straighten out" the front line around Mariinka and launch a fresh push around the town of Vuhledar, which is held by Kyiv. Pavel Mogila, commander of an armoured unit in a Russian militia force fighting for Ukraine, said they helped evacuate forces from the city using three vehicles. Moscow unilaterally declared it had annexed the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in 2022 despite not fully controlling any of them.

Persons: Pavel Polityuk, Tom Balmforth, Avdiivka's, Republicans scupper, rearm, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Dmytro Lykhoviy, Avdiivka, Serhiy Zgurets, Zgurets, Chasiv Yar, Vladimir Putin, Maksym Zhoryn, Pavel Mogila, Taran, Oleh, Putin, Yuliia Dysa, Peter Graff Organizations: Tom Balmforth KYIV, Kremlin, U.S, Republicans, Ukrainian, Defence Express, Kyiv, Third Assault Brigade, 110th Brigade Locations: Avdiivka, Russia, Bakhmut, Mariinka, Kyiv, Russian, Donetsk, Moscow, Ukraine, Vuhledar, Chasiv, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia

☆ Counting the 'colossal' cost of capturing Avdiivka: Russia could have suffered 30,000 casualties and lost over 400 tanks, IFVs
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

At least 30,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded, say Ukraine. AdvertisementRussia suffered huge losses in the battle for the strategic town of Avdiivka before ultimately capturing it. Russia lost more than 400 tanks and armored vehicles and "likely thousands of personnel," per the UK Ministry of Defense. He also said that at least 30,000 Russian soldiers had been injured in the battle, per The Telegraph. AdvertisementThere are no figures on the losses Ukraine has suffered in the bloody battle, though they to could also be significant.

Persons: Avdiivka, —, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Wes, Tim, bec Organizations: Service, Armed Forces of, Facebook, Russia, UK Ministry of Defense, Latest Defence, Ukraine –, Defence, kr Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Donbas, Armed Forces of Ukraine

☆ Putin is once again telling Russians to have more babies, and this time he's saying ethnic survival is at stake
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin is telling the country's citizens to have more kids for ethnic survival. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . He's calling on Russians to have more babies to preserve their ethnicity, Reuters reported on Thursday. "If we want to survive as an ethnic group — well, or as ethnic groups inhabiting Russia — there must be at least two children," Putin said at a tank factory, according to the news agency. Advertisement"In order to expand and develop, you need at least three children," said Putin, per Reuters.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, —, Putin, It's, Xi Jinping Organizations: Service, Reuters, UK's Ministry of Defence, Russian People's Council Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, China

☆ Russia's NATO neighbors are building hundreds of bunkers and anti-tank ditches in case of an invasion
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementEstonia, Lithuania, and Latvia are busy building massive defensive installations along their collective 1,000 miles of border with Russia and Belarus. The Baltic Defense Line, comprising hundreds of bunkers and other defensive measures, was a key part of an agreement struck between the three countries last month, prompted by the war in nearby Ukraine. Advertisement"A Baltic defensive line is a huge project," Lukas Milevski, a research fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, wrote recently. A diagram of prototype bunkers published by Estonia's defense ministry shows how the oblong structures are designed to fit into a T-shaped dugout, their entrance protected by earthworks.

Persons: —, 🛡️, evkur, e cade, " ERR, Baker, ure, ely, vic, ted as say Organizations: Service, Baltic Defense, ici Locations: Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Eston, ain

☆ Russia can sustain major losses in Ukraine for another two years, war analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But it can sustain such losses for another two years, war analysts said. AdvertisementRussia can sustain major losses in Ukraine for another two years, according to war analysts. AdvertisementUkraine has so far been able to repel and erode Russian forces, relying heavily on ongoing Western assistance, the RUSI said. The quality of Russian forces, meanwhile, is unlikely to improve as long as Ukraine can repel attacks, it said. AdvertisementTo achieve successful offensive operations, Russia will likely need to deploy combat-effective and well-equipped units and formations at scale, it said.

Persons: RUSI, — Organizations: Military, Service, The, Royal United Services Institute, International Institute for Strategic Studies, CNN, Ministry of Defence Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russian, Kremlin

☆ Russia's military alliances are giving it a major edge — just as Ukraine's are faltering
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A closer relationship with ChinaChina and Russia have deepened their military ties in recent years with the help of arms sales and joint military exercises. It has hosted Russian military drills, soldiers, and equipment, and enabled the transportation of Russian weapons close to Ukraine's borders. The situation is looking bleak for UkraineThe support from Russia's allies matters, especially when paired with the country's soaring defense budget. Its military appears to have a major edge over Ukraine as the country's financial and military support from its allies is faltering. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Senate passed a $95 billion emergency defense-aid bill that could support Ukraine, Israel, and Tawain — but the bill is expected to face stiff opposition by Republicans, BI previously reported.

Persons: —, That's, Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Klimentyev, Nils Andreas Stensones, Stensones, Trump, Putin, YURI KADOBNOV, Patrick Bury Organizations: Ukraine, Service, Norway's Intelligence Service, Sputnik, Moscow Times, UN, North, European Council, Foreign Relations, UK's Ministry of Defence, Reuters, University of Bath, Putin, Trump, Republicans Locations: Russia, Ukraine, China, Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Europe, Ukrainian, China China, Japan, Russian, Ukraine's, Helsinki, Israel

☆ Analysis-Indonesia's Prabowo Poised for Power, but How Will He Rule?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

One major question is how well, and for how long, his alliance with outgoing President Joko Widodo, or "Jokowi", will hold. On the campaign trail Prabowo has promised policy "continuity", but analysts say that is far from guaranteed. "Make no mistake a President Prabowo would be his own president." 'UNCERTAINTY' ON THE CARDSIn contrast to Jokowi, Prabowo is from an elite family, the son of a prominent Indonesian economist and the ex-son-law of the country's former authoritarian ruler, Suharto. Once his victory is officially endorsed, Prabowo will assume the controls of Southeast Asia's biggest economy on October 20.

Persons: Kate Lamb JAKARTA, Prabowo Subianto, Prabowo, Long, general's, Joko Widodo, Liam Gammon, Jokowi, Doug Ramage, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Indonesia's, Kevin O'Rourke, Suharto, “, He's, ANU's Gammon, Gammon, Kay Johnson, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Defence, Australian National University, ANU, Jokowi, Analysts, Human Rights Watch Locations: Indonesia, Prabowo, BowerGroupAsia, Indonesian, Ukraine, Qatar

☆ Ukraine is struggling hard on land, but thrashing Russia repeatedly at sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Tom Porter | Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementIf confirmed, it would mark strike twenty-five in a remarkable kill streak that Ukraine told CNN represents the disabling of a full third of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. AdvertisementUkraine's most astonishing triumph came early, in April 2022, when it sank Russia's Black Sea flagship, the Moskva. "Ukraine has been extremely successful against the Black Sea Fleet, forcing Russia to relocate assets further away from Ukraine and the frontline," Germond told BI. AdvertisementDown, but not outIs Ukraine's Black Sea success a solution to Ukraine's stalled ground offensive? This means that any ships sunk result in a longer-term decrease in the Black Sea Fleet.

Persons: —, Caesar, Ukraine Navy's, Murad Sezer, Sahaidachny, MAX DELANY, it's, Basil Germond, Germond, Michael Kofman, ” Sidharth, Kaushal, Russia can’t, ” Organizations: Service, Business, Russia's Ministry of Defence, Ukraine, CNN, Reuters, Getty, Military, Lancaster University, Shadow, Black, The Carnegie Endowment, Planet Labs PBC, Labs, UK’s Ministry of Defence, Royal United Services Institute, Montreux Convention, NATO, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Bosphorus, Sevastopol, Moskva, Russian, Syria, Rostov, Minsk, Russia, France, Novorossiysk, Odesa, Ukrainian

☆ Ukraine says its sea drones sank another Russian ship, continuing its unlikely kill streak in the Black Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine says it sunk another Russian naval ship in the Black Sea. Ukraine's military released video that appears to show sea drones attacking the landing craft. AdvertisementIf confirmed, the sinking would be another notch in Ukraine's impressive score sheet against Russia's Black Sea Fleet. In December, the UK's defense minister, Grant Shapps, said that Ukraine has destroyed some 20% of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Following this latest claimed attack, Ukraine's armed forces told CNN that it had destroyed a third of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

Persons: Caesar Kunikov, —, Caesar, That's, Vladimir Putin, Grant Shapps Organizations: Service, The Defense Intelligence, Russia's Ministry of Defence, Defense Intelligence, Ukrainian Armed Forces, CNN, Jet, Russian Black Fleet Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Soviet Union, Crimea, Alupka, Olivye, Moskva, Russia

☆ Ukraine's homemade sea drones often fail, but they're so cheap that it doesn't matter, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewUkraine's home-developed naval drones are offering vital capabilities that cruise missiles just don't have, a naval expert told Business Insider. This could have a sizable impact on Ukraine's ongoing efforts to subdue Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Defense Intelligence of UkraineSidharth Kaushal, a naval expert at the UK's Royal United Services Institute, outlined Ukraine's sea drones' limitations and advantages to BI. "The Ukrainians don't have very many cruise missiles that can target things at the ranges that they've been able to go after" with sea drones, he added. Since then, sea drones have been involved in multiple high-profile attacks, including reported strikes on two Russian landing ships in November.

Persons: —, Russia's, Kyrylo, Ukraine Sidharth, Kaushal, they've, Ukraine hasn't, Ivan Khurs, Basil Germond Organizations: Service, UK's Ministry of Defence, Business, Autonomous Guard, Defense Intelligence, Royal United Services Institute, CNN, Russia's Defence Ministry, Russian Defence Ministry, REUTERS, Lancaster University Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russia's, Ukrainian, REUTERS Ukraine, Russian, Crimea

CNN —Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war on Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram that the released prisoners had returned to Ukraine. Last week, Ukraine and Russia exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in what the Ukrainian government called the “second major exchange after a long break.”It was the first exchange since the mysterious crash of a Russian IL-76 plane on January 24 in Russia’s Belgorod region, which neighbors eastern Ukraine. Moscow claimed the plane was transporting dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war, while Kyiv said it was carrying Russian missiles to be used in further strikes on Ukraine. Zelensky said 207 Ukrainian service members were returned on Wednesday, while the Russian Defense Ministry said 195 Russian military personnel had been received.

Persons: KSHPPV, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Zelensky Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian Armed Forces, United Arab Emirates, Russian Ministry of Defence, Russian Air Force, Russian Defense Ministry Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Azovstal, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russian, Russia’s Belgorod, Moscow, Kyiv

☆ The UK sent a new warship to the Red Sea to take over from a vessel that's been attacked three times by Houthi rebels
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The UK has sent a warship to the Red Sea to replace another vessel, per the Ministry of Defence. HMS Richmond will take command of the UK's mission in the region, supporting US operations, it added. AdvertisementThe UK Ministry of Defence said that one of its warships was being replaced in the Red Sea after it suffered three separate attacks by Houthi rebels. The HMS Richmond will replace the HMS Diamond in the waters, the ministry announced in a press statement on Tuesday. AdvertisementMeanwhile, HMS Richmond will assume command of the UK's operation in the Red Sea.

Persons: Houthi, HMS, —, HMS Diamond, Peter Evans, Grant Shapps, Brian Raymond, Yahya Saree Organizations: Ministry of Defence, MOD, Service, HMS, Operation Prosperity Guardian, Royal Marines, Wildcat, Pentagon, Prosperity Guardian, US Navy SEAL, US Locations: Red, HMS Richmond, Iran, Iranian, Richmond, Gaza

☆ Russia may be replacing 100 tanks a month — but with older models which 'smacks of absolute desperation,' expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russia is generating 100+ tanks a month, largely replacing its battlefield losses, UK intel said. Nicholas Drummond, a defense analyst, agreed, telling BI that Russia is relying on older models as its ability to produce new ones is limited. AdvertisementBut Drummond is skeptical that Russia can even make battle-ready 100 of the older tanks a month. Ramping up productionRussia has seemingly been increasing its output of new tanks, while still relying on older models. AdvertisementBut another expert said these older tanks can still create a problem for Ukraine.

Persons: —, William Alberque, Nicholas Drummond, DIMITAR DILKOFF, Drummond, George Barros, Russia's, Oleksii, It's, Alberque, Rajan Menon, Menon, it's Organizations: intel, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Getty, Institute for, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, Defense Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, AFP, Dmytrivka, Kyiv region, Getty Images Russia, Ukrainian

☆ Ukrainian navy commander vows to destroy Putin's treasured Crimean bridge this year: Its 'days are over'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine has been targeting Russia's Kerch Bridge to cut off military transports to Crimea. A top Ukrainian naval commander pledged to destroy the highly symbolic bridge this year. AdvertisementA Ukrainian naval commander pledged to destroy a key bridge that connects occupied Crimea with Russia. A screen grab from surveillance footage showing flames and smoke rising up after an explosion at the Kerch Bridge on October 8, 2022. Photo by Security Camera/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesSince Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the bridge has been repeatedly damaged.

Persons: Oleksii Neizhpapa, —, Dmytro Gordon, Neizhpapa, Gordon, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin's Organizations: Service, Navy, Armed Forces of, Kyiv City Council, New, Security, Anadolu Agency, Getty, UK's Ministry of Defence Locations: Ukraine, Kerch, Crimea, Ukrainian, Russia, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kyiv

☆ Russian prisoners sent to Ukraine must now fight until the end of the war rather than for 6 months, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewRussian prisoners who are sent to fight in Ukraine are now being made to serve until the war ends instead of just for six months, the BBC reported. Russia has sent tens of thousands of prisoners to fight in Ukraine since it launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. AdvertisementOthers who have family members in Storm V units also say their relatives will have to stay until the war is over, the report said. AdvertisementSome of the recruited prisoners were convicted of violent crimes, and some of those pardoned have been accused of crimes since returning to Russia. Some Storm V soldiers get just three to five days of training before they are despatched to Ukraine, the BBC reported.

Persons: —, Sergei, Storm, SERGEY SHESTAK, Wagner, I've Organizations: Service, BBC, Business, Storm, Getty Images, Russia's Ministry of Defence Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Transbaikal, Russian, Bakhmut, AFP, Getty Images Russia, Ukrainian

☆ The high-profile failure of a $3.7B aircraft carrier shows how Britain is struggling to keep up with first-rate militaries
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Years of underfunding have left the UK's navy in a threadbare state, according to a report. AdvertisementThe high-profile failure of the UK's flagship aircraft carrier over the weekend has shown how Britain is struggling to keep up with first-rate navies around the world. AdvertisementThe Prince of Wales and the HMS Queen Elizabeth have only been in service for around three years. Having two aircraft carriers means that HMS Prince of Wales can quickly prepare to deploy in place of HMS Queen Elizabeth," said a spokeswoman. Advertisement"HMS Prince of Wales will deploy soon on NATO exercise Steadfast Defender, carrying out her duties to keep the nation and our allies safe."

Persons: underfunding, —, Elizabeth, Wales, Tom Sharpe, Lord Houghton, of Wales, HMS Queen Elizabeth, Prince, Sir Richard Barrons Organizations: NATO, Service, Britain's Royal Navy, US Navy, Navy, The Times, Britain's, Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces, Financial Locations: Britain, East Asia, Russia, Ukraine, Red, Bahrain, Wales

☆ Russia may have to raise taxes to meet the spiraling cost of invading Ukraine: UK intel
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Kremlin has plans to hike Russia's spending by 26% in 2024, per the UK's Ministry of Defence. Russia's National Wealth Fund is "increasingly being used to fund its invasion of Ukraine," it said. AdvertisementThe Kremlin will likely need to impose austerity measures to resolve Russia's budget deficit amid the growing cost of its invasion of Ukraine, according to UK intelligence. Advertisement"It is likely that the government will need to reduce its contributions to the National Wealth Fund and increase domestic taxes and debt to fund its planned expenditure," the UK MOD said. Such policies will have negative medium-to-long-term impacts, the UK MOD said on Monday.

Persons: —, Alexandra Prokopenko, who's Organizations: Ministry of Defence, MOD, Wealth, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, National Wealth Fund, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Center of Eastern European, International Studies, Foreign, Reuters, Bloomberg, International Monetary Fund, IMF Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Soviet Union, Russian

☆ Members of Ukraine's 82nd Air Assault Brigade praise the British Challenger 2 tank
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian soldiers from the 82nd Air Assault Brigade described how the British Challenger 2 tank has helped give them an edge in the fighting against Russian forces. The UK announced in January 2023 that it would provide Ukraine with 14 Challenger 2 tanks as part of a military aid package. AdvertisementAccording to the British Army's website, the Challenger 2 is the force's main battle tank and is "designed to destroy other tanks." AdvertisementRussian team members on a T-72 B3 battle tank. But it noted that Russia was likely able to build "at least" 100 main battle tanks a month, meaning it would be able to keep up its current level of offensive activity "for the foreseeable future."

Persons: WarTranslated, Viktor Organizations: 82nd Air Assault Brigade, British Challenger, Russian, Twitter, Challenger, Business, British Ministry of Defence Locations: Britain, Soviet, Ukraine, Russia, Russian

☆ Russia accidentally bombed itself again, the fourth time this month, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewA Russian plane accidentally dropped two bombs on Russian territory, according to UK intelligence, marking the fourth time it's happened this month. The UK Ministry of Defence highlighted the incidents in an intelligence update on Tuesday, citing a report by the independent Telegram news channel Astra. According to the report, a Russian aircraft discharged two FAB-250 bombs in the Belgorod region last Saturday. AdvertisementThis is the fourth such incident this month and the fifth over the last 12 months, the MOD said.

Persons: —, Russian warplane, Leonid Pasechnik Organizations: Service, Business, UK Ministry of Defence, Telegram, Astra, FAB, MOD Locations: Russian, Belgorod, Postnikov, Streletskaya, Petropavlovka, Russia's Voronezh Oblast, Luhansk People's Republic, Rubizhne, Russia, Luhansk

☆ Russia is replacing its destroyed tanks at a rate of 100 a month, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewRussia is able to make 100 tanks a month, allowing it to keep its offensive effort at the same level despite suffering major losses, according to UK intelligence. Since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has lost about 2,600 MBTs and 4,900 other armored vehicles, the UK MOD said. Alex Babenko/AP PhotoUkraine has lost far fewer tanks and vehicles than Russia has in the conflict, according to weapons trackers and experts. AdvertisementMany individual European countries are still giving support to Ukraine, but member state Hungary has blocked a major $52 billion support package. Ukraine also suffered major tank losses at the start of its counteroffensive efforts last June, but losses seem to have dropped since then.

Persons: —, Alex Babenko Organizations: Service, Business, UK Ministry of Defence, MOD, Ukraine, Pentagon, Leopard, Avdiivka Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Germany, Hungary, Avdiivka

☆ Iran Executes Four People It Says Are Linked to Israeli Intelligence -State Media
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran carried out the death sentences of four people on Monday that it says were linked to an Israeli intelligence operation, after the Supreme Court rejected their appeal, Iranian state media reported. The defendants were accused of illegally entering Iranian territory from Iraq's Kurdistan region to carry out a bombing operation in an Isfahan-based factory producing equipment for Iran's Ministry of Defence. Their operation was meant to take place in the summer of 2022 on behalf of Israel's Mossad and was averted by Iranian intelligence, according to the reports. Iran and Israel are longtime foes and are currently locked in a row over Iran's nuclear programme. Israel accuses Iran of backing militant attacks against it, while Iran says Israel has carried out a number of killings of Iranian officials and scientists.

Persons: Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Iran's Ministry of Defence, Dubai Newsroom Locations: DUBAI, Iran, Kurdistan, Isfahan, Israel

CNN —Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said it has discovered a mass corruption scheme in the purchase of weapons by the country’s military amounting to nearly $40 million (1.5 billion Ukrainian hryvnia). Ukraine’s Defense Ministry paid nearly all of the funds to arms supplier Lviv Arsenal, but the SBU said the ammunition was never received. We have no place for corrupt officials.” Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klymenkov said in a statement Saturday. Ukraine has been dogged by corruption scandals involving its defense ministry in recent years. In December, a senior Ukrainian defense ministry official was detained over allegations he had embezzled 1.5 billion hryvnia ($40 million) in a separate case involving an artillery shells contract.

Persons: SBU, Yurii Zbitnev, –, ”, Dmytro Klymenkov, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Oleksii Reznikov, Washington Organizations: CNN, Ukraine’s Security, Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, Lviv Arsenal, European Union, Ministry of Defence, Defense, Officials Locations: Balkans, Ukraine, Ukrainian, United States, Kyiv

☆ Russia is changing tactics to try to capture the city of Avdiivka and plans to fight through it 'block-by-block,' ISW says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian forces may be trying to make tactical gains by brute force, as they did in the bloody battle of Bakhmut, per the ISW. Future fighting in the city will likely resemble other instances of urban warfare in Ukraine, where Russian forces conducted attritional assaults for marginal gains, the ISW said. Ukrainian counter-attacks are holding Russian forces back, and the UK Ministry of Defence said the city will likely remain in Ukrainian control over the coming weeks. Ukrainian forces' main supply route remains intact, and they are conducting local counter-attacks against Russian troops, too, the UK said. Russian forces are reportedly attempting to bypass Ukrainian fortifications by trying to enter the city's edges using service tunnels.

Persons: —, Major Maxim Morozov Organizations: Service, Business, UK Ministry of Defense, of Internal, intel, Russian, UK Ministry of Defence Locations: Avdiivka, Russia, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Ukraine

☆ Iran Simultaneously Launches Three Satellites - State Media
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran simultaneously launched three satellites for the first time on Sunday using the Simorgh (Phoenix) satellite carrier rocket developed by the Ministry of Defence, state media reported. The larger satellite, named "Mahda" and built by Iran's Space Agency, is meant to test the accuracy of the Simorgh rocket in delivering multiple cargoes to space. Iran launched its Sorayya satellite into orbit this month with a rocket built by the elite military Revolutionary Guards, raising concerns among European powers that the space launch vehicle's technology could be used for the development of long-range ballistic missile systems. Iran on Saturday dismissed European countries’ condemnation of its launch of the Sorayya satellite, saying peaceful technological advancement in the aerospace field was the country’s legitimate right. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by William Mallard)

Persons: William Mallard Organizations: Reuters, Ministry of Defence, Iran's Space Agency, Revolutionary Guards, Saturday, Dubai Newsroom Locations: DUBAI, Iran

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