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Ukraine - Russia Invasion conflict
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According to Dárek pro Putina on September 21, 2023, its crowdfunding campaign, which commenced on May 8, 2023, with the goal of delivering a Bozena-5 demining system to Ukraine, reached its fundraising target. This achievement comes as a significant step in addressing the pressing issue of landmines in Ukraine, with the campaign amassing a total of 650,216 € to support this cause.
On September 21, 2023, the Swedish Ministry of Defense officially confirmed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have received ten Stridsvagn 122 tanks. This development follows the decision, made on February 24, 2023, to donate these tanks to Ukraine. Preparations for this donation, including the training of Ukrainian personnel in the operation of Swedish tanks, were already underway at the Army Staff in Enköping.
According to a statement published by the Russian State Defense Company ROSTEC on September 20, 2023, the latest generation of 2S19 MSTA-S 152mm tracked self-propelled howitzers, the 2S19M2, has been handed over to the Russian armed forces for rapid deployment on the Ukrainian battlefield.
The Ukrainian company STE (Spets Techno Export) recently unveiled a new drone, an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) that goes by the name "Punisher." The Punisher drone stands out as a high-precision alternative to long-range artillery or missile systems, designed to effectively neutralize enemy targets at distances of up to 45 kilometers. What sets this UAS apart is its exceptional ability to deliver precise strikes on the first shot, complete with a reliable prediction of the impact location. This feature plays a crucial role in minimizing the potential risks of collateral damages in the vicinity.
According to Autoevolution on September 15, 2023, a Spanish 6x6 BMR-600 VRAC (Contaminated Areas Reconnaissance Vehicle), one of only three known vehicles in existence, has been identified in active service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Originally designed for reconnaissance missions in highly contaminated areas, particularly those tainted by nuclear, biological, or chemical (NBC) threats, this exceptionally rare BMR-600 VRAC has undergone a conversion, transforming it into an armored medical evacuation vehicle.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced on September 19 that it allows two tactical machine gun systems – the RBPP-500 and the ‘Hyzhak’ – to be used in the army, as they have proved their effectiveness after tests by Ukrainian fighters, Militarnyi reports.
In the Soledar sector of the Donetsk front, Ukrainian fighters have adopted a new strategy involving FPV (First-Person View) drones, concealing them within the foliage and dilapidated structures to set up ambushes. An interview with an officer from the Terek Cossack brigade, known as Sanych, was featured in TASS and echoed on topwar.ru, shedding light on this evolving tactic.
On September 19, 2023, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense announced the delivery of 51 NM199 amphibious tracked carriers to Ukraine. These NM199 vehicles, which are a local version of the American M548, are armed with a 12.7mm machine gun and are supplied with spare parts. Their primary purpose is to transport essential supplies and ammunition to the front lines in Ukraine. Their amphibious capability should be much appreciated on a battlefield where so many bridges have been destroyed or simply do not exist.
According to information published on the Twitter account of "OSINTtechnical" on September 14, 2023, the Ukrainian forces have destroyed for the first time, a Russian 5P85TE2, Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL), part of a S-400 air defense missile system. The system was hit by Ukrainian drones early on September 14, 2023, outside of Yevpatoriya.
According to a report from The Chosun Ilbo on September 18, 2023, South Korea has recently decided to provide two domestically-produced K600 "Rhino" combat engineer vehicles to Ukraine. This engineer vehicle is based on the K1A1 Main Battle Tank and is designed for obstacle clearance and mine removal, offering assistance to Ukraine in its ongoing struggle against landmines and hazardous obstacles. Although not classified as lethal weapons, these vehicles have the capability to breach enemy defense lines if necessary, making them significant military equipment provided by South Korea to Ukraine.
Photos were published on September 16th on the Telegram channel "Tanks. History and modernity. Btvt.info", showing the Russian army using Ukrainian-made BMP-1U "Shkval", captured during the war in Georgia. These images suggest that these vehicles may already be in active service, although this information cannot be verified.
According to an article by Manas Joshi on wionews.com, as the conflict with Russia enters its second year, Ukraine is preparing to significantly increase its defense budget. On September 15, the Ukrainian government approved a draft budget for the year 2024, relying on ongoing financial support from Western nations to cover the anticipated budget shortfall. Since the outset of the conflict, Ukraine has received nearly $62 billion in foreign aid from Western countries, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Serhiy Marchenko, expressed hope for continued Western assistance.
According to an article by CBC on September 17, 2023, Canada's Defence Minister Bill Blair announced a financial commitment of CA$33 million (US$24.42 million) to support the acquisition of high-priority air defence equipment for Ukraine, including the procurement of hundreds of short and medium-range air defence missiles and related systems.
On September 17, 2023, a video released on Telegram unveiled a groundbreaking event in the ongoing conflict near Svitlodarsk, Donetsk. The Ukrainian armed forces have reportedly destroyed two of the latest generation Buk-M3 air defense missile systems using artillery rocket launcher systems.
Based on information circulating on Russian social media, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea, is set to supply its KN-09 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) to the Russian Federation. In addition to traditional artillery systems, North Korea has agreed to furnish Russia with missile systems. This development marks an enhancement in military cooperation between the two nations, granting Russia access to North Korean military equipment.
According to a tweet by Special Kherson Cat on September 15, 2023, Russia has lost its 40th T-90M tank since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, with each tank valued at approximately $4.5 million. These cumulative losses amount to at least $180 million worth of military assets.
On September 12, 2023, Denmark committed to providing its largest financial contribution to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022. The Danish aid package amounts to a total of 5.8 billion kroner, or 7.78 billion euros, with expenditures distributed as follows: 4.3 billion kroner in 2023, 1.4 billion kroner in 2024, and 52 million kroner in 2025.
According to a tweet by WarVehicleTracker's on September 15, 2023, Russia had recently deployed the 2S31 Vena, a 120mm self-propelled mortar, in Ukraine. This vehicle, which can operate on both land and water, is built on the chassis of the BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and shares some components with the 2S18 Pat-S, a prototype 152mm self-propelled howitzer.
According to an article by Life.RU on September 10, 2023, Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) has initiated the testing phase of the Shturm unmanned combat robot, built on the T-72 tank chassis, and intended for deployment on the Ukrainian frontline. The development of this unmanned tank project by UVZ had commenced before the onset of the Ukrainian conflict, but recent developments seem to have accelerated its progress. The testing program involves live-fire exercises against various target scenarios, with a focus on the utilization of the robot's primary armament, a 125-millimeter shortened barrel gun.
According to Russian sources on September 10, 2023, Oleksandr Potapov, the General Director of the Russian company "Uralvagonzavod," recently announced his company's plan to restart the production of T-80 series tanks, essentially starting from scratch, as the Russian Ministry of Defense has deemed this a significant task.
For the first time, the Russian military's ground-based robotic platform, known as "Yozhik" (or "Hedgehog" in English), will be deployed in Ukraine in a reconnaissance configuration. Andrei Bratenkov, the Executive Director of the design bureau "Spectre," revealed that the drone has been specifically requested by Russian special forces units.
On September 8, 2023, ten Danish Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks were delivered to Ukraine, with more en route. The Danish Ministry of Defense confirmed the ongoing operation, which has been in preparation since the spring. Training sessions are being organized in Germany, where Danish tank instructors are collaborating with German specialists to train Ukrainian crews before handing over the tanks.
According to information shared on Russian social media on September 10, 2023, the Russian Armed Forces unveiled the T-80BVM Model 2023, an upgraded version of the T-80BVM main battle tank, in a TV report that took place at the Omsktransmash enterprise's secure training grounds. This upgrade has been influenced by combat experience gained during the war waged in Ukraine.
Breaking News: On September 10, 2023, a video was released on social media platforms showcasing the first battle between a Ukrainian Leopard 2A6 tank, donated by Germany, and two Russian T-80BV tanks. The footage shows the destruction of two Russian T-80BV tanks by a Leopard 2A6 tank of the Ukrainian army.
According to a video posted on Telegram on September 8, 2023, there are reports that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have deployed a remotely-controlled mine-clearing vehicle, possibly the Bozena-5, for demining operations in an unspecified area of Ukraine. Upon reviewing the footage, it appears that this could be the first instance of the Bozena 4 being seen in Ukraine.
