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Ukraine sailors training on ship in Scottish waters
July 22nd 2022
Ukrainian sailors are being trained onboard a Royal Navy Sandown Class Minehunter off the coast of Scotland.
While the training has been common knowledge in defence circles, many (myself included) were asked not to promote it due to security concerns. As of this morning, however, the news has been made public. A Royal Navy mine hunter captain involved in the training told BBC Scotland here:
“It’s clearly a very difficult situation in Ukraine at the moment. We all understand the urgency of the task at hand. So it’s a professional privilege to be working with the Ukrainian navy, who are incredibly focused on getting the job done. And that’s motivating for my team to be able to give them the best training we possibly can.”
The Royal Navy is training Ukrainian sailors to operate the vessel after two of the class, HMS Blyth and HMS Ramsey, were sold to Ukraine prior to the invasion.
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SOURCE = UK Defence Journal
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Russia hasn’t destroyed any of the devastating HIMARS artillery given Ukraine, US says, contradicting Russia’s own claims
July 22nd 2022
Russia has not destroyed any of the HIMARS artillery which the US gave to Ukraine, General Mark Milley said. Speaking at a Wednesday Pentagon press conference, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said: “To date, those systems have not been eliminated by the Russians.” Milley acknolwedged that the systems are at risk, adding “I knock on wood every time I say something like that.” His statement contradicted several claims by Russian officials and media outlets to have destroyed the prized weapons, which Ukraine lobbied hard for and says give it a much-needed way to blunt Russia’s invasion. The HIMARS — short for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System — has proved crucial in attempts to hold back Russia’s advance in the eastern Donbas where it is focusing its troops.
The truck-like mounted units can fire precision-targeted heavy artillery around 50 miles, depending on the rounds used. The US has given Ukraine 12 units so far, with another four on the way, Milley said. His remarks followed several Russian claims to have destroyed as many as four of them. In a brefing reported by the state-operated media outlet Zvezda, a Russian defense ministry spokesperson said Russian forces had destroyed four HIMARS launchers between the dates of July 5 and July 20. Two of these were in Malotaranovka in the Donbas, according to a July 6 Russian MOD Telegram post, which also said it had destoyed two ammunition depots for the weapon. Milley did not specifically address the Russian claims in his briefing, instead saying in broad terms that the HIMARS had not been destroyed.
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SOURCE = Business Insider
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Why is Russia so vulnerable to HIMARS in Ukraine?
July 22nd 2022
It’s been nearly a month since U.S.-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, had their long-awaited debut in Ukraine, but their combat record is already extensive. Using all the heavy and long-range weaponry available to it, including HIMARS, Ukraine began a campaign that has destroyed dozens of significant fuel and munition depots in occupied parts of Ukraine, jeopardizing Russian logistics, vital supplies, and artillery power. Ukraine’s military then moved on to using rockets against Russian-controlled airfields, bridges, and transportation points.Now, HIMARS are also directly challenging Russia’s air defenses, wiping out expensive advanced radars far behind the front lines.
Contrary to its propagandistic bravado, the Russian military has appeared helpless — or at least very vulnerable — to the dozen or so U.S.-provided HIMARS striking the very essence of Russia’s military advantage over Ukraine, becoming an important factor in the war. And as the latest month of hostilities demonstrates, there’s little Russia can do about it. Its own systemic flaws, outdated tactics, lack of initiative, and previous failures in the war leave it few chances to confront the American weapons now in Ukrainian hands.
SOURCE = Kyiv Independent
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Russian forces dig in as bloody Ukrainian counterattack anticipated in south
July 22nd 2022
The war in Ukraine may be heading for its bloodiest phase yet, according to senior Ukrainian officials and western analysts, who say a long-threatened southern counteroffensive by Kyiv’s forces will result in a “huge battle” and will need to overcome increasingly well dug-in Russian troops. People interviewed by the Guardian, including those who have recently escaped Kherson, describe Russian forces in the south building hardened tank shelters, digging trenches and bringing in prefabricated concrete pillboxes by lorry. An increase in strikes in recent days against key Russian weapons stores and logistics around Kherson – which fell to Russian forces in early March – has added to suggestions that some Ukrainian forces may be edging closer to the long-promised offensive, even as Russian officials say they plan to annex further territory.
At his quarters in a training area in the south of the country hidden in an area of dense scrub, “Makita” – a Ukrainian battalion infantry instructor who only wished to give his nom de guerre – spelled out the challenges for a southern offensive. “We are holding our positions right now to the east of Mykolaiv. But the intention is to liberate the areas held by Russian forces. The biggest challenge is to do that with the minimum losses on the Ukrainian side. “Russian forces are fortifying what are already good positions,” he added. “They had a month in which to improve the defences. They also appear to be bringing up reserves and more weapons including 2S7s [self-propelled heavy artillery].
“The first task will be to push back the Russians towards Kherson and over the Dnipro [Dnieper] River. We know it is going to be hard.”
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SOURCE = The Guardian
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Ukraine war: Deal signed to allow grain exports to resume by sea
July 22nd 2022
Ukraine and Russia have signed “mirror” deals which will allow Kyiv to resume exports of grain through the Black Sea. The agreement will allow millions of tonnes of grain, currently trapped in Ukraine by the war, to be exported. The world shortage of Ukrainian grain since Russia’s 24 February invasion has left millions at risk of hunger. However, Kyiv refused to sign a direct deal with Moscow, and has warned “provocations” would be met with “an immediate military response”. Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak explained on Friday that the country would instead sign an agreement with Turkey and the United Nations (UN), which have brokered the deal, while Russia signed an identical agreement.
In the end, the two sides both attended the signing ceremony in Istanbul, but did not sit at the same table. Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu signed Moscow’s deal first, followed by Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov signing Kyiv’s identical agreement. The deal – which took two months to reach – is set to last for 120 days, with a coordination and monitoring centre to be established in Istanbul, staffed by UN, Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian officials. It can be renewed if both parties agree.
The blockade of Ukraine’s grain has caused a global food crisis with wheat-based products like bread and pasta becoming more expensive, and cooking oils and fertiliser also increasing in price. Mr Shoigu told a news conference that the deal might allow “the solutions to start this process in the coming days”. “I’m talking not only about beginning the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports but clearly also work in this direction on the export of agricultural products and fertilisers from Russian ports,” he added.
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SOURCE = BBC News
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New military aid package: UK to send artillery guns, hundreds of drones to Ukraine
July 22nd 2022
UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has revealed details of another package of UK military support for Ukraine, including dozens of artillery guns, hundreds of drones, hundreds more anti-tank weapons in the coming weeks. Wallace announced this in today’s updated report to Parliament, Ukrinform reports with reference to the statement made by the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces on Facebook. The new military aid package will also include more than 20 M109 155mm self-propelled guns and 36 L119 105mm artillery guns. The UK defense minister added that counter-battery radar systems and more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition for Ukraine’s existing Soviet era artillery will also follow. “This equipment will bolster the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia’s indiscriminate use of artillery,” the report reads.
The UK will also send more than 1,600 more anti-tank weapons in the coming weeks, along with drones, including hundreds of loitering aerial munitions. The General Staff reminded that so far 6,900 NLAW, Javelin, Brimstone and other anti-tank weapons, as well as 16,000 artillery rounds, six Stormer vehicles fitted with Starstreak anti-air missile launchers and hundreds of missiles had been sent to Ukraine. The UK has also supplied maritime Brimstone missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, 120 armoured fighting vehicles and large quantities of non-lethal aid including more than 82,000 helmets, 8,450 sets of body armour and over 5,000 night vision devices. The General Staff added that the increase in aid comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in June that the United Kingdom would provide Ukraine with another £1 billion of military support.
SOURCE = Ukrinform
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Ukraine LIVE: ‘That would mean defeat!’ Putin warned mobilisation tactic spells failure
July 22nd 2022
Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Vadym Skibitsky said Russia has suffered significant losses. He said Ukraine already sees the “problems” Russia has, including staffing of combat units. Mr Skybitsky continued: “To declare general mobilisation, to declare war means admitting defeat. To recognize the non-fulfillment of those tasks that were set for the ‘special military operation.’ So, they did not achieve what they wanted to do with their blitzkrieg and very quick occupation of the entire territory of our state.”
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