DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ COP28 in Dubai: Inside the push to greenwash the next climate summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The country has embarked on a major PR campaign to boost its green credentials ahead of the COP28 UN climate summit in Dubai later this year, prompting heavy criticism from climate groups and some politicians. The controversial road to COPThe climate summit takes place at a different location each year, with responsibility for hosting rotating among five regional groups. But the UAE stands out because of the way it chose to intertwine the summit with its oil business. In January, the UAE announced Sultan Al Jaber would be the summit president, to the horror of many climate groups. The country is “ideally suited to host” the summit, a spokesperson for the COP28 presidency told CNN.

Persons: ”, Jennie King, Sultan Al Jaber, Al Jaber, CNN Al Jaber “, Al Jaber’s, John Kerry, Frans Timmermans, “, ” Al Jaber, It’s, it’s, Al, ADNOC, Marc Owen Jones, Hamad, Jones, King, Cop28, Kat Ainger, ” King Organizations: CNN, United, United Arab Emirates, Centre, Climate, Guardian, Institute for Strategic, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, US, Associated Press, EU, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Twitter, UAE COP28, UAE Ministry of, Environment, UAE, US Justice Department, Corporate Locations: United Arab, Dubai, UAE, Katowice, Glasgow, Abu Dhabi, Al Jaber, Qatar, Paris, China, India, ”

☆ Ukraine may be close to surpassing Russia in active tank numbers, but Russia has a near endless supply of Soviet tanks in storage, military experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But Russia has a near indefinite supply of older tanks to replace its losses, military experts said. Ukraine's tanks, however, give the country a qualitative edge. The most recent estimates from Bloomberg put Ukraine's tank count at 1,500 active tanks compared to approximately 1,400 for Russia. It's unclear how many tanks Russia has already pulled from storage, as well as how many vehicles it has in storage to keep drawing upon. "Ukraine's tank fleet probably has as much combat power as the Russians," Cancian said.

Persons: Mark Cancian, Cancian, it's, Mick Ryan, —, Ryan, aren't Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Bloomberg, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Soviets, US Marine Corps, Center for Strategic, Studies, Australian Army, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian

☆ Ukraine could have more battle tanks than Russia for the first time ever, new data suggests
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine could have more tanks than Russia for the first time, new data suggests. A compilation of data from various sources suggests Ukraine currently has roughly 1,500 active tanks compared with around 1,400 for Russia, Bloomberg reported. While Ukraine's tank fleet has continued to grow, Russia's has been severely depleted. Ukraine has received 471 additional tanks since the war began last year, and a further 286 are still due to arrive, per data published by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy,During the conflict, Ukraine has lost 558 tanks and captured 546, data from open-source outlet Oryx suggests. It is also unclear how many old, retired tanks Russia has brought out, Bloomberg noted.

Persons: Russia's, Celestino Arce, Yohann Michel, Michel Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Kiel Institute, Getty, British, Russia, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine's Kherson, Kyiv

"It's all about containing those kinds of capabilities from the north," retired U.S. Major General Gordon B. Davis Jr. told Reuters. "With five submarines we can close the Baltic Sea," Linden told Reuters. The region from the Baltic in the south to the high north may become almost an integrated operating area for NATO. It was first shipped from Germany across the Baltic Sea, then trucked nearly 900 km to the north. "It would make it very difficult for the Russian Baltic Sea fleet to operate in a free way," he said.

Persons: Mika Hakkarainen, Finland –, Major General Gordon B, Davis Jr, Fredrik Linden, Sweden's, Linden, Samu Paukkunen, Paukkunen, Sebastian Bruns, Michael Maus, Kurt Rossi, Rossi, Tuomo Lamberg, Bruns, Nick Childs, Anne Kauranen, Johan Ahlander, Jacob Gronholt, Sabine Siebold, Sara Ledwith Organizations: NATO, Reuters, Fleet, Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Major, Analysts, Northern Fleet, Kiel University's Institute for Security, NATO's, Transformation, Field Artillery, U.S . Army, Baltic, Commission, Security, Cooperation, Naval Forces and Maritime Security, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Fouche, Pedersen, Thomson Locations: TORNIO, Finland, KARLSKRONA, Sweden, Norway, Russia, Stockholm, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, RUSSIA, Russian, Murmansk, Kola, Barents, North America, Greenland, Iceland, Helsinki, Baltic, Nord, Russia's, Denmark, Kiel, Rovaniemi, Santa Claus, United States, Britain, Germany, –, St, Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Sweco, Swedish, Gotland, Karlskrona, Oeland, London, Birmingham, Tornio, Oslo, Copenhagen, Brussels

☆ Shocking images show the wreckage of a Russian Il-22 airborne command plane shot down during the Wagner revolt
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Shocking images and videos show a destroyed Russian Il-22 command plane. Wagner Group forces are said to have shot down the plane during their revolt, killing the crew. Prigozhin said he regrets destroying Russian aircraft, but he argued they were attacking Wagner forces. The Ilyushin Il-22M aircraft — a valuable airborne command post operated by Russia's air force — was apparently shot down by Wagner Group forces during their revolt against Russian military leadership. Along with the Il-22 aircraft, Wagner shot down six Russian helicopters, killing 13 pilots in total, according to Ukraine, as well as expert observers, like Michael Kofman, the director of Russia Studies at CNA.

Persons: Prigozhin, Wagner, —, Russia's, Franz, Stefan Gady, OSINTdefender, Michael Kofman, Prigozhin — Organizations: Wagner Group, Service, Ilyushin, Russian, Center for Naval, Defense, Russian ] Aerospace Forces, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russia Studies, CNA Locations: Russian, Ukraine

☆ Canada just seized one of Russia's dwindling supply of massive heavy-lift cargo planes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The aircraft was an Antonov An-124, one of the biggest transport aircraft in the world. It was one of the few heavy-lift transport aircraft that Russia's military still has in operation. This month, Canada confiscated an Antonov An-124, one of the biggest transport aircraft in the world. Soon afterward, Canada closed its airspace to Russian aircraft in response to Moscow's attack on Ukraine on February 24. A Volga Dnepr Airlines Antonov An-124 grounded at Canada's Pearson International Airport in May 2022.

Persons: Antonov, —, Canada's, Steve Russell, Putin's, Ruslan Kaniuka, Jan Woitas, Antonov —, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Pearson Airport, Volga Dnepr, Volga Dnepr Airlines Antonov, Canada's Pearson International Airport, Toronto Star, Getty, Wall Street, Dnepr Airlines LLC, Dnepr Group, Canada, Crown, Government, Kyiv, Antonov, Publishing, Soviet, Royal United Services Institute, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russian Air Force, NASA, SpaceX, NATO, Soviets, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Canada, Russian, Toronto, Ukraine, Volga Dnepr Airlines, Volga, Hostomel, Soviet, British, Russia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukrainian, Crimea, Forbes

☆ India demonstrates naval strength with dual aircraft carrier exercise
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The Indian aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant lead combined operations in the Arabian Sea. Sanjay Atri/Indian NavyUpon Vikrant’s commissioning last year, India joined only the United Kingdom and China in commissioning a domestically built aircraft carrier in the previous three years. It has operated two aircraft carriers on two previous occasions, between 1987 and 1997, and between 2013 and 2017. But even with the advancements demonstrated by the dual-carrier operation, India’s carrier program still has question marks, said Childs from IISS. It would certainly suggest that the Indian Navy could do with more carrier aircraft,” Childs said.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Nick Childs, Vikramaditya, INS, “, India’s, Vikrant, Sanjay Atri, Collin Koh, ” Koh, Carl Schuster, ” Schuster, USS Nimitz, Ronald Reagan, Schuster, Childs, ” Childs Organizations: CNN, Analysts, United States Navy, Indian Navy, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Liberation Army, PLA, Navy, PLA Navy, US Navy, Indian Navy India, Australia –, Malabar, USS Locations: India, Russia, United Kingdom, China, Singapore, Soviet, Liaoning, Shandong, Fujian, Hawaii, ”, United States, Japan, Australia, Philippine, IISS

☆ How is Ukraine’s counter-offensive going so far?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Western equipment like battle tanks and armoured vehicles should help protect the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. "Ukraine's got choices," said Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at International Institute for Strategic Studies. Those thrusts may indicate Ukraine's generals have their eye on Tokmak, an occupied town in Zaporizhzia region some 25 km from the front line. Military analysts saw it as unlikely this would become the focus of the main Ukrainian offensive. Images shared by Russian military bloggers showed destroyed or damaged U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 2 tanks, headline items of military aid sent by the West for the counteroffensive.

Persons: Rob Lee, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's, Ben Barry, Lee, Konrad Muzyka, Hanna Maliar, Muzyka, Maliar, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Jack Watling, Tom Balmforth, Mark Trevelyan, Mike Collett, White, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Western, Foreign Policy Research Institute, Reuters, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russian, West, Interior Ministry, Deputy, Troops, Military, Bradley, Leopards, Thomson Locations: Kyiv, KYIV, Ukraine, Russia, Crimea, Moscow, Kherson, Kharkiv, Poland, Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Zaporizhzia, Melitopol, Velyka Novosilka, Bakhmut

☆ Analysis: Ukraine counteroffensive takes shape but main test still to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Moscow's strategy in the south likely aims to maximise Ukrainian casualties before Kyiv can reach the main Russian line of defences about 10-15 km (6-9 miles) away, according to Lee. The main thrusts have come near the Kyiv-controlled town of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia region and Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk region, about 80 km to the east. "My main concern five or six days into this main phase is that the progress appears to have stopped. Military analysts saw it as unlikely this would become the focus of the main Ukrainian offensive. Images shared by Russian military bloggers showed destroyed or damaged U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 2 tanks, headline items of military aid sent by the West for the counteroffensive.

☆ China's efforts to catch up in global electronic spying race
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Greg Torode | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Aside from monitoring capabilities, a large, permanent presence on Cuba "is an important symbol, getting right under the noses of the U.S. and reflecting China's global ambitions", he said. In 2019, Reuters reported that China's military was running a space monitoring station in Argentina. Regional diplomats say that as China builds a global military intelligence network, it lacks a U.S.-style system of alliances and partnerships that can help discreet surveillance efforts. China's defence ministry declined to comment. "This trend is only going to grow alongside China's global reach," said Singapore-based defence analyst Alexander Neill.

Persons: Diego Garcia, Carl Thayer, China's, Antony Blinken, Alexander Neill, Greg Torode, Kirsty Needham, Laurie Chen, Gerry Doyle Organizations: People's Liberation Army, Australian Defence Force Academy of, Australian National University, PLA, Reuters, Defence, South China, International Institute for Strategic Studies, China, Support Force, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Cuba, Beijing, United States, U.S, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Guam, British, CUBA, Coast, Florida, Russia, Moscow, Argentina, CHINA, Hainan, South, Southeast Asia, London, Namibia, Pakistan, Kenya, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Angola, China's, Singapore, Sydney

☆ Russia reports heavy fighting in southern Ukraine, Kyiv silent on counterattack
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Dan Peleschuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Zhytomyr... Read moreKYIV, June 9 (Reuters) - Russia reported heavy fighting along the front in southern Ukraine on Friday, where bloggers described the first sightings of German and U.S. armour, signalling that Ukraine's long-anticipated counterattack was under way. The counteroffensive is ultimately expected to involve thousands of Ukrainian troops trained and equipped by the West. Russia, which has had months to prepare its defensive lines, says it has withstood attacks since the start of the week. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar described heavy fighting in the east, where she said Ukrainian troops had mainly held off Russian attacks. On the southern front she said only that battles were continuing for the settlement of Velyka Novosilka and that Russian troops were mounting "active defence" at Orikhiv.

Persons: Read, Ben Barry, They’ve, Barry, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, it's, Hanna Maliar, Ihor Taburets, Mark Trevelyan, Peter Graff, Angus MacSwan, Nick Macfie Organizations: Press, State Emergency Service of, West, Kyiv, International Institute for Strategic Studies, U.S, Bradley, Kremlin, Ukrainian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Zviahel, Zhytomyr region, State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Zhytomyr ., KYIV, Russia, U.S, Orikhiv, Crimea, Tokmak, Dnipro, Moscow, Bakhmut, Europe, Velyka, Ukrainian, Cherkasy, Voronezh, Kyiv

☆ Ukraine reports 'heavy combat' after Putin says offensive has begun
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Dan Peleschuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

"We can state for sure that this offensive has begun," Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Sochi. "Ukrainian troops did not achieve their goals in any sector." Ukrainian military analyst Oleksander Musiyenko, interviewed on Ukrainian NV Radio, said Ukraine was making gains but dismissed Russian reports of a major counter-offensive in south-central Zaporizhzhia region. The counteroffensive is ultimately expected to involve thousands of Ukrainian troops trained and equipped by the West. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said only that battles were continuing for Velyka Novosilka and Russian troops were mounting "active defence" at Orikhiv.

Persons: Putin, Zelenskiy, Vladimir Putin, Voldymyr Zelenskiy, Oleksander Musiyenko, Musiyenko, Ben Barry, They've, Barry, Hanna Maliar, Velyka Novosilka, Prystan, Oksana, Ukraine Denise Brown, Mark Trevelyan, Olena Harmash, Ron Popeski, Peter Graff, Diane Craft, Angus MacSwan, Nick Macfie, Andrew Heavens, Philippa Fletcher, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Press, State Emergency Service of, Ukrainian NV, West, United, Kyiv, International Institute for Strategic Studies, U.S, Bradley, Deputy, Reuters, United Nations, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Zviahel, Zhytomyr region, State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Zhytomyr ., Russia, Ukrainian, KYIV, Moscow, Kyiv, U.S, Sochi, United States, Orikhiv, Crimea, Tokmak, Europe, Dnipro, Voronezh, Belgorod, Kursk

"(This) creates a very good defending position for Russians who expect Ukrainian offensive activity,” Matysiak said. Russia has denied responsibility and accused Ukraine of sabotaging the dam to deflect from what Moscow said were Ukrainian military failures. "For Russians the reason to do it would have been to stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive, obviously. For Ukraine, the breach might have provided a way of distracting the Russians while Kyiv launches its counteroffensive, she added. Patricia Lewis, Research Director for International Security at the Chatham House think tank, said the situation helps Russia even if the Ukrainian counteroffensive later makes inroads.

Persons: Ruslan Strilets, Ben Barry, Maciej Matysiak, ” Matysiak, Strilets, Mohammad Heidarzadeh, Heidarzadeh, Dmytro Kuleba, Marina Miron, Patricia Lewis, they're, Aiden Nulty, Ben Tavener, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Kyiv, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Stratpoints Foundation, University of Bath, Civil, Engineering, University of Warwick, Reserve, Nova Kakhovka, King's College, International Security, Chatham House, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Dnipro, Kyiv, Nova, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia, Kherson, Crimea, Britain, London

☆ Brazenly defending a Chinese warship buzzing an American destroyer in the Taiwan Strait, China's new defense minister tells the US: 'Mind your own business'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( David Rising | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A Chinese warship overtook an American destroyer and sailed across its bow on Saturday. China's defense minister Gen. Li Shangfu said, "In China we always say, 'Mind your own business.'" Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu delivers his speech on the last day of the 20th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore, Sunday, June 4, 2023. He accused the US and others of "meddling in China's internal affairs" by providing Taiwan with defense support and training, and conducting high-level diplomatic visits. The sanctions, which broadly prevent Li from doing business in the United States, do not prevent him from holding official talks, American defense officials have said.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, —, Vincent Thian Li, Li, Austin, Roslan Rahman, Li scoffed, Vincent Thian Organizations: US, Service, Privacy Policy SINGAPORE, Washington, Pacific Command, US Air Force, Chinese Defense, 20th International, for Strategic Studies, AP, Getty, Russia, US Defense Department Locations: American, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Taiwan Strait, South, Canadian, Beijing, Chinese, South China, Austin, East, Ukraine, Moscow, United States, — China

☆ Shangri-La Dialogue: Ukraine war hasn't changed China's thinking around possible attack on Taiwan, IISS reports says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

That invasion has also drawn increased attention to Taiwan as a potential security flashpoint in Asia. “There is no evidence that China has a fixed timetable for invading Taiwan,” the report added. Meanwhile, Beijing’s rhetoric around Taiwan was one of several key triggers accounting for Japan’s growing concern over China, the report said. That has included strengthening trilateral cooperation with allies South Korea and Japan and revamping the Quad security grouping with Australia, Japan and India, widely seen as a counter to China’s military rise. It is Li’s first time attending the conference since stepping into his role as defense minister earlier this year.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, Anthony Albanese, Oleksii Reznikov, China’s, “, Li, Austin Organizations: CNN, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Defense, Chinese Defense, Australian, Ukraine’s Defense, South Pacific, Communist Party, South, People’s Liberation Army Locations: China, Ukraine, Taiwan, Singapore, Europe, Asia, Pacific, United States, Austin, Beijing, South China, South, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Australia, India, United Kingdom

☆ U.S.-China ties weigh on security summit as defense chiefs meet in Singapore
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Regional concerns were underscored recently with the Pentagon saying that a Chinese fighter jet made an "unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" against an American reconnaissance plane in the South China Sea late last week. Under President Xi Jinping's leadership, China has grown more hawkish on the global stage, particularly in its historic claims over Taiwan and the South China Sea. "What you are seeing is the emergence of a regional security architecture," said Thompson of the LKY School. "The region is really coming together with a common interest in regional security and stability." Singapore is Austin's second stop on a whirlwind tour that will also take him to Japan, India and France.

Persons: Li, Xi Jinping's, We're, Chin, Hao Huang, Wang Wenbin, Huang, What's, Anthony Albanese, Thompson, Li —, Donald Trump, Austin, Joe Biden Organizations: Yale, NUS College, CNBC, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Australian, LKY, Pentagon, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Observers Locations: Austin, American, South, China, Taiwan, South China, Asia, Pacific, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Beijing, Korea, France, U.S

☆ New North Korean space rocket features engine from ICBMs, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Josh Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] A still photograph shows what appears to be North Korea's new Chollima-1 rocket being launched in Cholsan County, North Korea, May 31, 2023 in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency and taken from video. "It appears to make use of an engine that appeared in an earlier North Korean intercontinental-range ballistic missile." The Chollima-1 appears to be a medium-lift space launch vehicle intended for delivering small satellites to low earth orbit. "In this case we do have a fairly large payload fairing compared to the earlier North Korean space launch vehicles," Panda said. South Korea said it was working to recover parts of the North Korean rocket, releasing photos that showed what analysts said appeared to be a section designed to join two stages, and a liquid propellant tank inside.

Persons: Joseph Dempsey, Panda, Korea's, Josh Smith, Gerry Doyle Organizations: North, Korean Central News Agency, REUTERS, Carnegie Endowment, International, North Korean, International Institute for Strategic Studies, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Cholsan County, North Korea, REUTERS SEOUL, U.S, Korea's, Soviet, United States, Korea, South Korea, South

SINGAPORE, June 1 (Reuters) - Tensions between the United States and China are expected to loom over Asia's top security meeting this week, as China has declined a bilateral meeting between the superpowers' defence chiefs. The Shangri-La Dialogue, which attracts top defence officials, senior military officers, diplomats, weapons makers and security analysts from around the globe, will take place June 2-4 in Singapore. More than 600 delegates from 49 countries will attend the meeting, which opens with a keynote address by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. China's new Defence Minister Li Shangfu, however, has declined to meet U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, the Pentagon said on Monday. Other key issues that are likely to be discussed include ongoing tensions in the disputed South China Sea and East China Seas.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Li Shangfu, Lloyd Austin, General Li, Li, Xi Jinping, Zhang Youxia, Drew Thompson, Lee, Thompson, Chong Ja Ian, Lynn Kuok, Kuok, Xinghui Kok, Greg Torode, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Australian, Defence, U.S, Pentagon, Central Military Commission, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public, National University of Singapore, NUS, International Institute for Strategic Studies, East China Seas, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, United States, China, Singapore, Beijing, U.S, Ukraine, Taiwan, North, Korean, Russia, East, Britain, Australia, Japan, India

☆ Russia's aging, obsolete tanks are actually doing some serious damage in Ukraine, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's tanks are still a formidable force in Ukraine, a new report has claimed, despite their age. There are three main ways Russian armor has adapted in the conflict, the report said. Instead, Russian tanks nowadays effectively provide backup for artillery, long-range firepower, and quick raids. And some Russian modifications and tactics have also made it harder to detect and hit Russian armor with anti-tank guided missiles, the authors wrote. In recent months much has been written about Russia's military weaknesses, which exposed deadly gaps in a previously much-feared force.

Here is a look at the F-16, why Ukraine wants it and why the Biden administration is hesitant to supply it. It has flown in American conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, the Persian Gulf and on homeland defense missions in U.S. airspace. There are approximately 3,000 currently in active military service worldwide, including hundreds in the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Without modern fighter jets, “no air defense system will be perfect,” President Volodymyr Zelensky told European leaders gathered at a summit in Reykjavik, Iceland, this week. He also said it would be unlikely for Britain, with its “special relationship” with America, to push ahead with trying to provide F-16s if the Biden administration was not at least somewhat on board.

☆ Russia-Ukraine War: Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Smoke rises from the side of the Ilsky Oil Refinery manufacturing complex in the Krasnodar region in southern Russia. For the past several days, Russian infrastructure near Ukraine’s border and in Russian-controlled Crimea has been targeted repeatedly. But it has usually maintained ambiguity about involvement in attacks on Russian territory. Russian officials reported strikes on train lines in Russia’s Bryansk region on Monday and Tuesday. Four drones also attacked storage facilities on Thursday at one of the largest oil refineries in southern Russia’s Krasnodar Territory, according to Tass, the Russian state news agency.

It also highlights Russian frustration at failing to complete the capture of Bakhmut after more than nine months of costly, intense battle. ANGRY TIRADEWhat looked real, however, was Prigozhin's fury at Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. "If Putin wants him to be in combat, he'll force him in one way or another to do so." Marten said its involvement in the battle for Bakhmut, including fighters recruited from Russian prisons, had allowed Putin to avoid declaring a full-scale mobilization. Whatever its immediate intentions around Bakhmut, Wagner is likely to remain a significant player in the war, given Prigozhin's personal ambitions and determination to stay in the limelight.

☆ Russia's air force has taken a beating, but its jets could still turn the tables in Ukraine, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia's air force has had a limited role in Ukraine, despite numerical and technological advantages. Russia has held its air force back largely because of Ukraine's effective air-defense network. Which raises the question: If Ukrainian air defenses fade, will the Russian Air Force — known as the VKS — finally become a decisive factor in the war? Ukraine's small but resourceful air force put up spirited resistance that mitigated Russia's numerical and technological superiority, however. "So the air force, I think, would definitely be committed much more heavily if they had a chance."

☆ US general cautions against writing Russia's army off in Ukraine: 'It is bigger today than it was at the beginning of the conflict'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's ground forces are bigger than they were when they first invaded Ukraine, a top US general said. "Much of the Russian military has not been affected negatively by this conflict," said Gen. Christopher Cavoli. He continued: "The Air Force has lost very little, they've lost 80 planes — they have another 1,000 fighters and fighter-bombers. Earlier in the hearing, Cavoli noted that "much of the Russian military has not been affected negatively by this conflict." Russia has also continued to combine this military power with cyber attacks and manipulation of the global energy supply, Cavoli said.

☆ Ukraine is aiming to launch a 'big bang' style counter-offensive in order to break stalemated war, says military expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine's anticipated counter-offensive will be like a "big bang," a military expert told The Sun. A 'concentrated' attack is needed to disrupt the stalemated war, Ben Barry said. "We're looking at a 'big bang' concentrated attack, rather than dribbling it away in penny packets," he said of Ukraine's planned counter-offensive. "Ukraine could kill every Russian soldier within 200 miles of Bakhmut, and it wouldn't change the strategic situation," Hodges told The Sun. "Ukraine knows that it will never be safe without taking back Crimea," Hodges told the news outlet.

Search resuls for: "Institute for Strategic"

25 mentions found