Live Conflict Ukraine-Russia War

[Soldier30]

An episode of an attempt to counterattack by a Ukrainian armored group, Russian positions in the area of the village of Novotroitskoye in the Pokrovsk direction. The column, consisting of a T-64BV tank and two armored personnel carriers of an unspecified type, was moving towards the village of Novotroitskoye. Judging by the video, the lead T-64BV tank was blown up by a mine, after which the column stopped. It is reported that after the tank was blown up, Russian artillery began to work on the column

 

[SilverMachine]

Drawing conclusions from 1 exchange is kinda silly. Also since Russia is advancing they capture more bodies that does not tell about casualties.

That's the key in all of this, that second part. Russia's advancing, at a greater rate than they have previously, and that's basically due to Ukraine being out of dudes. The equipment & cash is still coming in from overseas, but that's not much good when there's no one left to make use of them.

A manpower problem doesn't get better. Not when you want to be seen as the compassionate good guy leader, not when you're unwilling to send out roving squads of MPs to force 18 year olds kicking-and-screaming to die in the east. Zelensky could do that, but he won't, because at the end of the day he's a politician and he'd rather Ukraine ultimately partially-capitulate to Russia than the public see him personally as the guy pointlessly wasting an entire generation of 18-to-23 year olds Putin-style. He caught enough shit at home the first time when he started sending the 24 year olds.

 

[Relic]

Today the United States transferred $20 Billion usd to the World Bank, for distribution to Ukraine. The money is part of a larger $50 Billion usd loan, the remaining $30 Billion usd of which will released by the remainder of the G7.

The Biden Government promised that they would transfer the U.S. portion of the loan before leaving office, to ensure that the incoming Trump Government would not cancel the loan or attach any extra provisions, rules or regulations to it. Today the Biden Government lived up to that promise. Ukraine will now be able to use that money to purchase much needed additional military equipment, as well as pay it's armed forces.

The loan will be paid back over 30 years, using interest proceeds from frozen Russian assets in American and EU financial institutions.

U.S. Transfers $20 Billion Loan to Ukraine Backed by Russian Assets

The economic lifeline ensures that Ukraine will have economic support after President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Relic]

On the same day that USA announced a $20 Billion usd loan to Ukraine, the State Department approved a $266 Million usd foreign Military sales package for the upgrade and upkeep of Ukraine's F-16 Fighter Jets. This news comes just a couple days after Denmark announced the transfer of additional F-16s to Ukraine.

The $266 Million usd support package consists of the the following:

- Joint Mission Planning System
- Weapons Software
- Training Equipment / Munitions
- Spare Parts

These packages might not seem "sexy" on the surface, however, Ukraine is expected to receive upwards of 85 F-16s from 4 European partners. Upgrading the Jets, making them more capable and lethal, will greatly increase their survivability and Mission capability. Furthermore, a significant influx of spare parts will keep them airborne and active.

For the forseeable future Ukraine will continue to use their F-16s as long range strike platforms and airborne air defense platforms, intercepting Russian drones and cruise missiles with relatively cheap and available AIM-120 AMRAAMS and AIM-9 Sidewinders. Meanwhile, additional pilots are currently training in USA , Canada , The Netherlands , Poland and Romania . As more pilots qualify on the airframe and the current pilots build their skill sets, it's expected that Ukraine will expand the role of their F-16s, using them to support ground formations closer to the front and to provide some forms of of CAS against advancing Russian units.

What I would next love to see is USA sell an additional couple dozen units of F-16s to Ukraine. The Americans are retiring them by the hundreds over the next couple years and Ukraine could buy some of them for a reasonable price, putting a portion of that hefty loan to use. There is no immediate need for additional units as Ukraine doesn't have to the number of pilots required to fly the inventory they have access to now, but long term, it would allow Ukraine to be more aggressive with them.

US announces $266 million in sales to bolster Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets

The State Department approved a $266 million foreign military sales package for Ukraine on Dec. 10, enabling the sustainment of services as well as repairs necessary for the upkeep of the country's F-16 fighter jets.

kyivindependent.com

 

[SilverMachine]

Hopefully their, what, half-dozen pilots who actually passed the F-16 training can make use of those additional F-16s.

 

[Soldier30]

Footage of the attack of the Russian FPV kamikaze drone "Prince Vandal Novgorodsky", controlled via fiber optic cable. In the video, the FPV drone "Vandal" attacks the Ukrainian robotic platform "Lynx", with the installed combat module "Shablya". The ground-based wheeled drone "Lynx" is produced in Ukraine, it is equipped with the combat module "Shablya" with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The unmanned platform "Lynx" can be controlled via cable or via Wi-Fi. The remotely controlled robot "Lynx" is equipped with boxes of ammunition for 250, 450 and 600 rounds. Judging by the video, at the time of the drone strike, the robotic platform "Lynx" was no longer active.