Posted on 02/24/2024 5:59:01 AM PST by SpeedyInTexas
This list only includes destroyed vehicles and equipment of which photo or videographic evidence is available. Therefore, the amount of equipment destroyed is significantly higher than recorded here. Loitering munitions, drones used as unmanned bait, civilian vehicles and derelict equipment are not included in this list. All possible effort has gone into avoiding duplicate entries and discerning the status of equipment between captured or abandoned. Many of the entries listed as 'abandoned' will likely end up captured or destroyed. Similarly, some of the captured equipment might be destroyed if it can't be recovered. When a vehicle is captured and then lost in service with its new owners, it is only added as a loss of the original operator to avoid double listings. When the origin of a piece of equipment can't be established, it's not included in the list. The Soviet flag is used when the equipment in question was produced prior to 1991. This list is constantly updated as additional footage becomes available.
(Excerpt) Read more at oryxspioenkop.com ...
Link please
15,000 of Putin’s troops have been killed trying to drive Ukraine out of Kursk, Kyiv claims
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14258677/amp/15-000-Putins-troops-killed-trying-drive-Ukraine-Kursk-Zelensky-reveals-Kyivs-forces-destroy-five-Russian-air-defence-systems-worth-300-million-one-day.html?ico=amp_related_replace
Trump: Russia’s feelings can be understood in the context of statements about the inadmissibility of Ukraine joining NATO; Biden is the culprit of the conflict in Ukraine, which was provoked by the incompetence of his administration. pic.twitter.com/jIXSBNSZ7M— 🅰pocalypsis 🅰pocalypseos 🇷🇺 🇨🇳 🅉 (@apocalypseos) January 7, 2025
🍈 is reaching lol
The mighty shrinking genius makes a rousing appearance!
Kyiv Independent reports:
“The Biden administration plans to unveil a significant final weapons aid package for Ukraine during Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to Germany on Jan. 9.
Austin is set to meet representatives from around 50 nations that have supported Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly three years ago, two senior defense officials told the Associated Press.
While the officials did not specify the exact value of the aid, they described it as “substantial.” The package will not encompass the approximately $4 billion remaining in congressionally approved funding for Ukraine. However, they noted that “more than a couple of billion dollars” would likely be left for the incoming Trump administration to allocate if it chooses to do so...
...According to one defense official, Biden administration officials handling Ukraine policy have been coordinating with Trump’s transition team...
...Austin’s trip to Ramstein Air Base will mark his final meeting with the coalition he formed in response to Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Over the course of the war, these nations have contributed more than $126 billion in military assistance, including ammunition, advanced fighter jets, air defense systems, counter-UAV technologies, and tanks. The U.S. has provided $66 billion of that total.
The upcoming aid package, scheduled to be announced on Jan. 9, will draw from existing stockpiles with the intent of delivering most of the pledged weapons to Ukraine before Trump takes office, one official said.”
😂
“I have been to depot maintenance where the planes are literally stripped of their aluminum skins and reskinned.”
Just guessing... reskinning adds 15 more years of life to the KC-135?
Bracing for new sanctions on Russia’s fleet of “Shadow Tankers”, expected before Inauguration Day. President Trump may further sanction Iranian “Ghost” oil tankers as well.
Kyiv Independent reports:
Chinese port ban on US-sanctioned tankers tightens oil supply, Reuters reports
“Shandong Port Group has prohibited U.S.-sanctioned tankers from accessing its ports in the eastern Chinese province, three traders familiar with the issue told Reuters. This region, home to many independent refiners, is a significant importer of oil from countries under U.S. embargoes.
Last year, Shandong imported approximately 1.74 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil from Iran, Russia, and Venezuela, accounting for about 17% of China’s total imports, according to Kpler...
...The ban, if enforced, is expected to increase shipping costs for Shandong’s independent refiners, which rely heavily on discounted sanctioned crude from these countries, traders told Reuters...
...Traders believe the ban could also slow oil imports into China, the world’s largest importer of crude.
A notice issued by Shandong Port on Jan. 6, verified by three traders, said that ports are prohibited from docking, unloading, or servicing vessels listed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control under the U.S. Treasury. Shandong Port manages key facilities on China’s east coast, including Qingdao, Rizhao, and Yantai, which serve as significant hubs for importing sanctioned oil.
In a follow-up notice on Jan. 7, reviewed by Reuters, Shandong Port claimed the shipping ban would have a “limited impact” on independent refiners, as much of the sanctioned oil arrives on non-sanctioned tankers.
According to Michelle Wiese Bockmann of Lloyd’s List Intelligence, the shadow fleet moving Iranian, Russian, and Venezuelan oil comprises roughly 669 tankers. Between October and December, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned 35 tankers identified as part of Iran’s “ghost fleet.”
Separate sanctions were also imposed on Sovcomflot, a major Russian tanker operator, early in 2024. Sources revealed that the outgoing Biden administration intends to sanction over 100 tankers linked to Russian oil, further constraining shipping options. Analysts anticipate the shift to non-sanctioned tankers will drive up costs for Shandong refiners, which are already struggling with low margins and weak demand.”
lol
No idea but expect them to be flying for at least another 10 years and probably longer
A large fire engulfed an oil depot overnight on Jan. 8 in the city of Engels in Saratov Oblast, various Russian Telegram media channels reported.
Ukrainian drone debris, apparently.
OilPrice.Com reports:
Transdniester Gas Crisis: Moldova Steps In as Russia Cuts Supply
“The Moldovan government on January 6 said it would provide natural gas to 14 localities in the Moscow-backed Transdniester breakaway region as residents there suffer through the brutal winter after Russian supplies were cut off on New Year’s Day.
The settlements are those that are already connected to Moldovan networks. Moldova’s Premier Energy Distribution firm said it would supply electricity to two localities that are technically connected to the western — or government-controlled — bank of the Dniester River.”
The Transnistrian Russian Stooge “Government” refused Moldovan and EU help to get ready, and again when the cutoff occurred, but a week after, it is now going to happen where it can. Those parts of Transnistria that are connected to Moldovan grids and pipelines will be getting gas and electricity from Moldova.
In some areas, pipeline connections will have to be built, so they may not get gas until next Winter. The electricity generation plant in Transnistria has cut over to coal, and has about 50 days of supply on hand.
Kyiv Independent Reports Allies taking a long view, on supporting Ukraine:
“The Jan. 9 Ramstein-format summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) will focus primarily on supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities in establishing a “credible deterrent force” through 2027, the Pentagon said on Jan. 7.
“The leaders of (UDCG) will need to endorse roadmaps that articulate Ukraine’s air force, armor, artillery, de-mining, drone, integrated air and missile defense, information technology and maritime security needs and objectives through 2027,” a unnamed defense official is quoted as saying by the Defense Department’s news channel.
“These roadmaps are intended to enable donors to plan for and support Ukraine sustainably into the future,” the official added.”
Ukraine Claims Its Drone Boats Are Now Launching Kamikaze FPV Drones At Russian Shore Targets
Ukraine says it has destroyed three Russian air defense systems in some of the first successful FPV drone strikes launched from drone boats at sea.
https://www.twz.com/news-features/ukraine-claims-its-drone-boats-are-now-launching-kamikaze-fpv-drones-at-russian-shore-targets
—
NATO Boosting Naval Presence And AI Monitoring In Baltic Sea After Undersea Cables Cut
NATO is responding to the suspected severing of undersea cables linking Finland and Estonia by a Russian-linked oil tanker.
https://www.twz.com/news-features/nato-boosting-naval-presence-and-ai-monitoring-in-baltics-after-undersea-cables-cut
—
Tailless Fighter-Like Airframe Appears At Chinese Jet Manufacturer Shenyang’s Main Plant
The appearance of the object comes after two new tailless heavy tactical jet designs appeared in Chinese skies on Dec. 26.
https://www.twz.com/air/tailless-fighter-like-airframe-appears-at-chinese-jet-manufacturer-shenyangs-main-plant
Read the entire ISW link at comment #10423, several items piqued my interest which I will post as separate comments.
Ukraine’s successful Sea Baby drone system has upset several aspects of Putin’s Black Sea military hopes.
“Ukrainian drone strikes continue to affect Russian operations in the Black Sea. Ukrainian Navy Spokesperson Captain Third Rank Dmytro Pletenchuk reported on January 6 that Russian forces have saturated the Kerch Strait Bridge with echeloned air defenses and increased the number of fuel tanker trucks crossing the bridge, indicating that Russian forces are using the bridge for fuel supply after Ukrainian strikes damaged Russian ferries.[73] Pletenchuk reported on January 5 that Russian forces have only deployed one submarine in the Black Sea to guard a Russian base (likely the Russian naval base in occupied Sevastopol, Crimea) and that Russian forces have been using aviation to protect the Black Sea area due to the threat of Ukrainian naval and aerial drone strikes against Russian ships.[74] Pletenchuk stated that Ukrainian drone strikes against ships docked for repairs have forced Russian forces to stop trying to repair vessels in occupied Crimea.[75] Pletenchuk stated that the Russian base in Russian-occupied Ochamchire, Abkhazia lacks a harbor that would allow Russian forces to dock ships safely or expand their naval capabilities.[76] ISW previously reported that the existing port in Ochamchire is unsuitable to become a primary base for the Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) as the sandy beaches and surrounding terrain is largely inconducive for the construction of deepwater naval infrastructure.[77]”
Will Ukraine make further efforts to restrict heavy transport on the Kerch Bridge? Since Abkhazia has now been deemed unsuitable for a deep water port, who will be the next victim of Putin’s ambition?
Another glorious day in Putin’s effort to make his mark on history before his death. Russian casualties over 800,000 with almost 2,000 killed or wounded, not to mention large numbers of land and air vehicles destroyed including 10 precious tanks.
I return again to the ISW link at comment #10423 to add some thoughts on Putin’s pal(?) in Belarus.
“Significant activity in Belarus (Russian efforts to increase its military presence in Belarus and further integrate Belarus into Russian-favorable frameworks)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in an interview published on January 5 that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko apologized a few days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that Russian forces had launched the invasion from Belarus.[85] Zelensky stated that Lukashenko claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched missiles from Belarusian territory without Lukashenko’s permission. Lukashenko’s Press Secretary Natalia Eismont claimed on January 6 that Lukashenko did not apologize to Zelensky because Belarus “has nothing to apologize for” and that the phone call occurred due to Lukashenko’s son Nikolai Lukashenko’s “emotional reaction,” presumably to Russia’s full-scale invasion.[86]”
I wonder how old son Nikolai is, and what future influence he might have on his father and Belarus’s role in the ongoing Putin/Ukraine drama?
NOTE: If you want to check the quotes here, the reference numbers like [86] indicate where it is in the ISW article. In this case very near the end.
IMHO, a tailless fighter aircraft does not make sense. It would be unstable and difficult to control at high angle-of-attack (AOA)/slow speeds, which is where most dog fights end up.
A tailless fighter sized drone could make sense as a wingman to a manned fighter. The drone could fire long range missiles then exit back to friendly territory or RTB.
A tailless aircraft definitely have stealth advantages.
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