DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Ukraine's attack on a Russian air-defense system may point to 'systemic tactical failures' with Russia's air defenses in Crimea, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine has recently taken out two of Russia's prized S-400 air-defense systems in Crimea. US-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said the latest attack may signal Russia's air defenses in Crimea have "systemic tactical failures," it wrote on Thursday. In April, Ukrainian defense secretary Oleksiy Danilov hinted that Ukraine sees Crimea as a testing ground for new weapons. The UK's Ministry of Defence said that those attacks also expose weaknesses in Russia's air defenses and have likely prompted a reorganization around air bases. The S-400 system was created as an upgrade to Russia's earlier S-300, the country's answer to the US Patriot air defense system.

Persons: Ukrainska, Oleksiy Danilov, Trump, Michael Kofman Organizations: Service, BBC, for, Ukrainska Pravda, Ukraine, UK's Ministry of Defence, US Patriot, Pentagon, New York Times, Times Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Wall, Silicon, Yevpatoriya, Ukrainian, Olenivka, Russian, Turkey

☆ Russia covered up a pilot's attempt to shoot down a NATO aircraft near Ukraine, blaming it on a malfunction, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Last year, a Russian jet released a missile near a British Royal Air Force reconnaissance aircraft. But a new BBC report found that the pilot actually tried to shoot down the NATO aircraft but failed. The pilot of a Russian SU-27 fighter jet fired two missiles at a British RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft on September 29 last year. At the time, Russia claimed it was a "technical malfunction" — an explanation accepted by British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. Since the incident, RAF flights have been escorted by Typhoon fighter jets armed with air-to-air missiles.

Persons: Ben Wallace, Vladimir Organizations: British Royal Air Force, NATO, Service, BBC, RAF, British, Russian, Ministry of Defence, New York Times, Russia's Ministry of Defense Locations: Russian, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine

☆ The guy who drove a rolling tank bomb at Russian soldiers jammed the accelerator down before jumping out of a hatch, Ukraine says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The brigade told Insider the driver had to position the tank, jam the accelerator, and jump out. The UK Ministry of Defence previously said that Ukraine had destroyed many Russian tank bombs before they got close enough to do any significant damage. The tank used was a T-62 captured from Russian forces when Ukraine took back the city of Kherson last year. Galas said Ukraine took dozens of similar tanks in that operation, where he said Russian forces "were running away and they were leaving behind their tanks." But as its condition worsened, the decision was made to pack it with explosives and send it back toward Russian forces.

Persons: Yaroslav Galas, Vasil Dudinets, Galas, Dudinets, didn't, would've Organizations: Service, Transcarpathian Brigade, UK Ministry of Defence Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Zaporizhzhia, Russian, Kherson, Soviet Union

☆ British commandos have trained hundreds of Ukrainian marines in the 'art' of amphibious raids
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

For six months, British Royal Marines have been training hundreds of Ukrainian marines in "the art" of conducting commando raids and complicated amphibious operations. The British Royal Marines Commandos are one of the best amphibious-warfare units in the world. Ukrainian marines training with British Royal Marines in March 2023. Ukrainian marines training in the UK in February 2023. Ukrainian marines could also join the shadowy fight taking place in the marshes and inlets of the Dnipro River Delta.

Persons: Mark Johnson, Ben Wallace, Wallace, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: British Royal Marines, Ministry of Defence, British Royal Marine Commandos, British Royal Navy, Royal Navy, British Commandos, UK Royal Marines, British Royal Marines Commandos, Commandos, Royal Marines, Argentine, British Marines, Naval Center of Special, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins School, International Studies, Boston College Law School Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Crimean, Crimea, British, Argentina, East Falkland, Dnipro, Russian, Delta

☆ Russia enticed soldiers to join a unit by saying it wouldn't fight in Ukraine for months, then sent it straight to the front, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia recruited a unit of soldiers and told them they would only be deployed until December. But the unit was "rushed into action early," UK intelligence said in an update on Wednesday. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Ministry of Defense also said that Russian military officials could use the 25CAA "to regenerate an uncommitted reserve force in the theatre to provide commanders with more operational flexibility." The update comes as Ukraine makes advances in its grueling counteroffensive, which was launched in early June. AdvertisementAdvertisementMeanwhile, tens of thousands of Russian military equipment and weapons have been destroyed and captured.

Organizations: Service, Combined Arms Army, British Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Defence, of Defense, — Ministry of Defence Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine

☆ Sweden to consider sending fighter jets to Ukraine, SR radio reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Louise Rasmussen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Sweden's jet fighter JAS 39 Gripen E flies over the Gotland island in the Baltic Sea, May 11, 2022. TT News Agency/Henrik Montgomery via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCOPENHAGEN, Sept 12 (Reuters) - The Swedish government is considering donating Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine to help it fight Russia, Swedish public radio (SR) reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources. The government wants to know, among other things, how a handover would affect Sweden's defence capabilities and how quickly Sweden could get new Gripen fighters, SR reported. The Netherlands and Denmark have led a push to supply Ukraine with U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to help counter Russia's air superiority in the war. According to the SR report, Ukraine hopes to receive one division of Gripen jets, made by Sweden's Saab <SAABb.ST>, or 16-18 planes.

Persons: JAS, Henrik Montgomery, Sweden's, Gripens, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Terje Solsvik, Kevin Liffey Organizations: TT News Agency, REUTERS, Rights, Gripen, Sweden's Saab, NATO, Thomson Locations: Gotland, Baltic, Rights COPENHAGEN, Swedish, Ukraine, Russia, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, U.S, Turkey, Hungary

☆ Denmark to donate military aid package to Ukraine, worth $833 mln
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Christiansborg Palace is lit in the colours of the Ukrainian flag to show support to Ukraine on the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion, in Copenhagen, Denmark February 24, 2023. Ritzau Scanpix/Mads Claus Rasmussen via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsCOPENHAGEN, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Denmark will donate a package worth 5.8 billion Danish crowns ($833 million) to Ukraine, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, tank ammunition and anti-aircraft guns, the ministry of defence said in a statement on Tuesday. The full amount is distributed over three rounds - 4.3 billion this year, 1.4 billion in 2024 and 52 million in 2025, the ministry said. This is the twelfth and largest donation package Denmark has sent to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in February 2022, the ministry added. ($1 = 6.9626 Danish crowns)Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ritzau Scanpix, Mads Claus Rasmussen, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Ed Osmond Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Thomson Locations: Christiansborg, Ukraine, Copenhagen, Denmark, Rights COPENHAGEN, Russia

☆ Ukraine hit Russia with one of its own prized tactics — turning an old, captured tank into a giant rolling bomb
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine filled a tank with explosives and sent it toward Russian positions, a brigade said. Turning tanks into huge bombs is a tactic Russia has been using in Ukraine. The driver said he knew it would be "instant death" if the tank was hit and the explosives went off. The brigade said it used a captured Russian tank to make the explosive — specifically a decades-old T-62 it took earlier in the war. The spokesman, Yaroslav Halas, said a Ukrainian tank driver had to drive the explosive-filled tank most of the way to its target.

Persons: Yaroslav Halas, Halas, Vasil Dudinets, Dudinets Organizations: Service, Mountain Assault Brigade, Facebook, Pravda, UK Ministry of Defence, 128th Brigade Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian, Ukrainian, Soviet Union, Kherson

☆ Russia wants to recruit 420,000 soldiers despite the country being crippled by labor shortages, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia is hoping to draft 420,000 military personnel by the end of the year, according to UK Intelligence. But Russia has worsening labor workforce shortages back home, one Russian survey said. The UK MOD said Russia's conscription has "negative effects on its industry workforce". The UK MOD pointed out that Medvedev's figure cannot be independently verified. "This shows that mobilization and conscription within Russia has worsened non-defence workforce shortages," it said.

Persons: Dmitry Medvedev Organizations: Intelligence, MOD, Service, Gaidar Institute for Economic, British Ministry of Defence, Russia's Security, Reuters, —, Russian, Kommersant, Washington Post Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russian

☆ Fact Check-Military decree ordering cremation of deceased Ukrainian soldiers is fake
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A military decree shared on social media ordering a Ukrainian unit to cremate the bodies of its deceased soldiers is a fake, spokespeople for the military brigade and Ukraine’s department for strategic communications told Reuters. It orders the A7052 unit to “organise a mobile crematorium” with enough fuel for five days, as well as gathering a stockpile of burial urns. A representative of the A7052 unit told Reuters that no such document or order had been issued. The number on the stamp is 07849800, but the EDRPOU number for unit A7052 is 26623365, as seen on public records of procurement tenders: here . Ukrainian authorities say the document, which uses the wrong identifying code of the military unit, is fake.

Persons: Read Organizations: Reuters, Social, Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, Brigade, Territorial Defence, Facebook, Department of Strategic Communications, Armed Forces, Chief’s, Official Defence Locations: Kherson ., Ukraine, Russia, morgues, Kherson, Ukrainian

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 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 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 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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 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

☆ 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

Search resuls for: "Ministry of Defence"

25 mentions found