NPR

Germany is preparing to give Ukraine the largest military aid package worth about 2.7 billion euros - Der Spiegel

It will include:

20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles,
30 Leopard 1 tanks,
18 wheeled howitzers,
4 IRIS-T-SLM air defense systems, 12 IRIS-T-SLS launchers, hundreds of guided missiles for this system,
200 reconnaissance drones,
100 protected combat vehicles and over 100 logistics support vehicles.

According to the publication, the new aid package should be officially announced on Sunday.

For almost 29 years, he has ruled Belarus with an iron fist.

But now Aleksandr Lukashenko seems rather to be suffering from an iron deficiency, if the rumors that abound on the internet are to be believed.

Indeed, the Belarusian leader is described as distracted and unsteady to the bone, during his traditional visit to Moscow for the annual victory parade on 9 May.

It was to be even more sensational when the keen hockey player and former cross-country runner apparently needed to be driven by car, barely 300 meters down the street.

And when the 68-year-old canceled a formal breakfast with the Russian president and his closest allies, it really set the rumor mill on fire.

https://www.archynewsy.com/aleksandr-lu ... is-raging/

Switzerland has given the go-ahead for arms supplies to Ukraine, - EuroNews.

The two chambers of the Swiss parliament, the National Council and the City Council, voted in favor of an amendment to the War Materials Act. This will allow in the future to transfer military equipment to Ukraine.

Hellraiser wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 7:56 am

Germany is preparing to give Ukraine the largest military aid package worth about 2.7 billion euros - Der Spiegel

It will include:

20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles,
30 Leopard 1 tanks,
18 wheeled howitzers,
4 IRIS-T-SLM air defense systems, 12 IRIS-T-SLS launchers, hundreds of guided missiles for this system,
200 reconnaissance drones,
100 protected combat vehicles and over 100 logistics support vehicles.

According to the publication, the new aid package should be officially announced on Sunday.

geordie_6 wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 10:40 am

Hellraiser wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 7:56 am

Germany is preparing to give Ukraine the largest military aid package worth about 2.7 billion euros - Der Spiegel

It will include:

20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles,
30 Leopard 1 tanks,
18 wheeled howitzers,
4 IRIS-T-SLM air defense systems, 12 IRIS-T-SLS launchers, hundreds of guided missiles for this system,
200 reconnaissance drones,
100 protected combat vehicles and over 100 logistics support vehicles.

According to the publication, the new aid package should be officially announced on Sunday.

Other sources reporting that it will also include some additional Gepards, 15 I believe.

Hellraiser wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 11:08 am

geordie_6 wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 10:40 am

Hellraiser wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 7:56 am

Other sources reporting that it will also include some additional Gepards, 15 I believe.

If that's true that means the Qataris have sold the 15 they bought for the World Cup back to Germany.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 12:08 pm

Maintaining military aircraft isn't easy, & it isn't cheap. In an institutionally corrupt kleptocracy I'm sure highly skilled mechanics being paid a pittance are going prefer to moonlight for cash in hand, & then just sign off on the maintenance they were supposed to be doing.

I think this is why the the Orc Air Force hasn't played the role the West expected, apart from probably the CAS element.

Blackmac wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 12:26 pm

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 12:08 pm

Maintaining military aircraft isn't easy, & it isn't cheap. In an institutionally corrupt kleptocracy I'm sure highly skilled mechanics being paid a pittance are going prefer to moonlight for cash in hand, & then just sign off on the maintenance they were supposed to be doing.

I think this is why the the Orc Air Force hasn't played the role the West expected, apart from probably the CAS element.

Military fast jets are actually incredibly fragile and the servicing has to be very stringent. The weekly servicing, even for planes I used to work on, like Phantoms and Tornados, was exhaustive and hugely expensive, and they were considered quite robust aircraft.

petej wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 12:56 pm

Blackmac wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 12:26 pm

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 12:08 pm

Maintaining military aircraft isn't easy, & it isn't cheap. In an institutionally corrupt kleptocracy I'm sure highly skilled mechanics being paid a pittance are going prefer to moonlight for cash in hand, & then just sign off on the maintenance they were supposed to be doing.

I think this is why the the Orc Air Force hasn't played the role the West expected, apart from probably the CAS element.

Military fast jets are actually incredibly fragile and the servicing has to be very stringent. The weekly servicing, even for planes I used to work on, like Phantoms and Tornados, was exhaustive and hugely expensive, and they were considered quite robust aircraft.

Yep. The tornado engine has a lot more parts than the typhoon and I think the super hornet is slower and has less range than the tomcat but is an easier plane to maintain. The Russians also push their engines far harder and nearer the limit so the component service life is shorter.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 12:08 pm

Maintaining military aircraft isn't easy, & it isn't cheap. In an institutionally corrupt kleptocracy I'm sure highly skilled mechanics being paid a pittance are going prefer to moonlight for cash in hand, & then just sign off on the maintenance they were supposed to be doing.

I think this is why the the Orc Air Force hasn't played the role the West expected, apart from probably the CAS element.

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 4:17 pm Is the flurry of air losses a result of UA's recent acquisition of Storm Shadow and the fear of what they can do? Combined with the use of those decoys maybe there is a hint of panic stations...especially factoring in the anticipation of the UA counter-offensive adding to the general jitteriness. Hoping this is all a good sign of how psyops can work a big advantage

Hellraiser wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 11:16 pm

Wagner chief offered to give Russian troop locations to Ukraine, leak says

In late January, with his mercenary forces dying by the thousands in a fight for the ruined city of Bakhmut, Wagner Group owner Yevgeniy Prigozhin made Ukraine an extraordinary offer.

Prigozhin said that if Ukraine’s commanders withdrew their soldiers from the area around Bakhmut, he would give Kyiv information on Russian troop positions, which Ukraine could use to attack them. Prigozhin conveyed the proposal to his contacts in Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate, with whom he has maintained secret communications during the course of the war, according to previously unreported U.S. intelligence documents leaked on the group-chat platform Discord.

Prigozhin has publicly feuded with Russian military commanders, who he furiously claims have failed to equip and resupply his forces, which have provided vital support to Moscow’s war effort. But he is also an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who might well regard Prigozhin’s offer to trade the lives of Wagner fighters for Russian soldiers as a treasonous betrayal.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national ... documents/

Britain to send long-range attack drones to Ukraine
Reuters

LONDON, May 15 (Reuters) - Britain will send hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200km to Ukraine, the government said on Monday after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in the country for talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

"Today the Prime Minister will confirm the further UK provision of hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200km," the government said in a statement.

"These will all be delivered over the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance to the ongoing Russian invasion."

dkm57 wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 9:35 am Spending too much time pondering this this morning, the wonder is that with so many people who would benefit from this man's termination, how is he still alive. Why has this only been revealed publicly now when he's been playing games since at least January. He's a completely amoral piece of shit (if we didn't already know this). I can only think that he has now passed his use by date and everyone is waiting for someone else to do the job.

Bakhmut update. Thread

1/ Based on testimonies from PoW's, it has been revealed that several Russian regiments, predominantly composed of mobilized troops, were hastily deployed from rear positions without training or preparation after Prigozhin's statement about Bakhmut.

2/ These regiments were swiftly relocated to the flanks of Bakhmut, where deployed companies and battalions suffered devastating losses. Within a short period of three to five days, the casualties exceeded 40%, primarily comprising soldiers killed in action.

3/ The enemy soldiers reported a complete absence of commanders at the frontline, along with a severe lack of communication and the absence of clear orders. They complained over the mistreatment from the Wagner forces - who treat them as the lowest caste

4/ It was also reported that Wagner forces have assumed control over some of the Ministry of Defense units in the Bakhmut area. Because of that, there is a mistrust between units, as soldiers are systematically assigned by Wagner to areas where their chances of survival are low.

5/ Multiple prisoners of war expressed skepticism regarding Wagner's claims of limited ammunition and equipment. They claim to have significantly fewer resources in terms of ammunition and equipment compared to the Wagner forces.

6/ This situation further worsened when the Russian Ministry of Defense started deploying units consisting of convicts, a practice that was previously exclusive to Wagner forces. These convicts, have limited military value and sustain high losses.

7/ In the city, Ukrainians continue to face a challenging situation, while situation on flanks continue to decline for russians. Their attempts to reinforce with low-quality units have resulted in heavy losses and a significant blow to russian troops morale.

Flockwitt wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 10:05 am

dkm57 wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 9:35 am Spending too much time pondering this this morning, the wonder is that with so many people who would benefit from this man's termination, how is he still alive. Why has this only been revealed publicly now when he's been playing games since at least January. He's a completely amoral piece of shit (if we didn't already know this). I can only think that he has now passed his use by date and everyone is waiting for someone else to do the job.

The man's got a sewer rat's instinct for survival, just where and how to lie and bluster, but with a conniving cunning that shouldn't be under estimated.