|
a
|
|
Ukraine - Russia Invasion conflict
|
|
|
|
|
Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy chief major general of Ukraine's main military intelligence arm, has recently reported that Russia is enlisting approximately 30,000 soldiers monthly. Although this recruitment of soldiers each month suffices to compensate for frontline losses, Russia would have to initiate a larger-scale mobilization to build a more substantial strategic reserve.
Ukraine's Defense Forces have reported 626 instances of Russian forces deploying munitions containing toxic substances, with 51 of these cases occurring in January 2024 alone. What is even more concerning is the upward trend in such incidents, with up to 10 cases of chemical weapon usage being documented daily, according to Kateryna Tyschenko's report in Ukrainska Pravda. This flagrant violation of the international chemical weapons treaty by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine is a matter of grave concern.
According to a video published on social media on January 13, 2024, Ukrainian soldiers, using a US-donated M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) guided by a drone, have destroyed a rare Russian electronic warfare vehicle known as the RB-109A Bylina.
The Ukrainian armed forces have shared exclusive footage showing their Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), Ironclad, carrying out strikes against Russian military bases. While UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are very prolific in the war in Ukraine, UGVs also hold an important place, and their development is closely monitored.
Recent images shared on social media, dated January 14, 2024, reveal that the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), supplied to Ukraine by the United States, have been upgraded with additional armor. This enhancement is aimed at bolstering the tanks' defenses against the evolving threats on the Ukrainian battlefield. Observations from the photographs indicate that the sides of the M1A1 Abrams tanks appear to be equipped with the M-19 Reactive Armor Tile (ARAT), a state-of-the-art armor solution designed to provide superior protection in combat scenarios.
An amazing video released on Telegram has captured tense and intense close-quarter combat between two Ukrainian Bradley M2A2 tracked armored IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) and one Russian T-90M MBT (Main Battle Tank), showcasing the effectiveness of U.S.-donated military equipment in the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The footage, captured by a drone on January 11, 2024, documents a ten-minute skirmish near Stepovo, in the Donetsk region, where the 47th Ukrainian Mechanized Brigade, equipped with Bradley M2A2 tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), engaged a Russian T-90 Main Battle Tank.
According to a video published on Social Network on January 12, 2024, Ex-Belgian Army Leopard 1A5 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) are now in service with Ukraine's 59th motorized brigade. At the moment, 30 Leopard 1A5 tanks have been delivered by Germany to Ukraine and about 130 more will be delivered in the future.
The UK Ministry of Defence has released an intelligence update revealing the impactful use of First Person View Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (FPV-UAVs) by Ukrainian forces. Operating on the east bank of the Dnipro River, these drones have been a key element in targeting Russian forces, marking a new phase in drone warfare. According to one Russian blogger, almost 90 percent of Russian vehicles in the Krynky sector have been destroyed.
Army Recognition's deep analysis of the Russian T-90M Proryv-3 reveals a sophisticated evolution in Russia's approach to armored warfare. This latest generation of the T-90 tank series, rooted in the legacy of the T-72, marks a significant leap forward from its predecessors. Developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the T-90 platform has been continuously upgraded, reflecting Russia's strategic emphasis on enhancing its armored capabilities.
The THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) delivered by Milrem Robotics to Ukrainian armed forces in the war with Russia are being taken full advantage of during demining, route clearance, re-supply and other missions according to feedback shared with the company.
According to a picture published on a social network on January 10, 2023, the Ukrainian 10th Army Corps has recently outfitted its German-made Marder 1A3 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) with the 'Sania' system, designed to counter First Person View (FPV) drones. This deployment is in response to the escalating use of FPV drones in warfare, particularly in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In December 2023, a photograph of the Gibka-S in Ukraine, published on the Russian social network VK, confirmed the deployment of this new short-range surface-to-air missile system. This air defense system, based on the chassis of the "Tiger" armored vehicle, enables the Russian military to significantly increase its anti-aircraft arsenal, offering a rapid and efficient response to diversified aerial threats.
On January 6, 2024, a video shared by NMFTE on Telegram showed a Ukrainian M113 armored personnel carrier equipped with a ZU-23-2 towed 23 mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled automatic cannon, indicating a practical approach to the utilization of existing military resources.
On January 10, 2024, information emerged from Russian social media sources about the deployment of the 1L277 Sobolyatnik portable ground reconnaissance radar stations by the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine. This development is indicative of an attempt to improve surveillance in the conflict area, particularly in response to the use of drones by Ukrainian forces, which have been a notable aspect of the conflict.
On January 6, 2023, the Ukrainian armed forces released videos on their social media platforms showing the neutralization of two Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense systems using Polish-made Warmate loitering munitions. It appears that the Warmate loitering munitions have successfully overcome the electronic countermeasures of the Pantsir systems.
The 5th Separate Assault Brigade of Ukraine has incorporated an innovation into its arsenal: an automated turret equipped with a Browning M2. This new addition was showcased in a video at the beginning of this year, 2024. Following the rise of drones, we may now be witnessing the emergence of a new unmanned system.
Milanion has announced their flagship AGEMA Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) is in service with the Kraken special unit of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine. The Kraken unit is involved in front-line combat missions in Ukraine and the AGEMA UGV can provide vital battlefield support for personnel operating in the harsh Ukrainian winter conditions.
As reported by Russian social media reports from January 8, 2023, the Russian Armed Forces have reportedly incorporated the T-80BVM Model 2023 Main Battle Tank into their units in the Zaporizhzhia region. This tank, representing an updated version of the T-80BVM, is reportedly being used in current military operations, particularly in assisting infantry during assaults against Ukrainian positions.
As reported by InfoDrive on December 31, 2023, Sergey Chemezov, the General Director of the Russian state corporation Rostec, has announced plans to test the remote-controlled BMP-3 Sinitsa infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) within the Russian military operation zone in Ukraine.
According to a post on the Russian social network VK, the use of old T-55 tanks by Russian forces has been observed in Ukraine. These relics from the Soviet era, although technologically outdated, are playing the role of self-propelled artillery in the theater of war. This tank is being used to potentially compensate for the large number of Russian armored vehicle losses announced by the Ukrainian forces.
The "Come Back Alive" Foundation recently delivered 500 FPV kamikaze drones to the special purpose brigade of the Azov National Guard, as announced on the organization's social media platforms, echoed by Militarnyi.
On January 8, 2024, a member of the Ukrainian armed forces announced via its social media channel: the first successful interception of an Iranian-origin Shahed-238 drone. This drone, equipped with a jet engine and capable of speeds up to 500km/h, would have been shot down over central Ukraine, marking its first appearance in the conflict.
Ukrainian intelligence has obtained 100 gigabytes of classified data from the Russian company LLC 'Special Technological Center' located in St.Petersburg, which is involved in the production of 'Orlan' drones used in the war in Ukraine, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reports, echoed by The Odessa Journal.
On January 6, 2024, the Ukrainian government proudly announced the formal induction of the Shturm-SM ATGM tank destroyer into its armed forces. This model is a significant Ukrainian modernization of the Soviet-era 9K114 Shturm, with both the original and the upgraded Shturm-SM based on the MT-LB chassis. The Shturm-SM features substantial enhancements, including the OPSN-I optical sighting station and the RK-2P Barrier-P anti-tank missile. This project represents a concerted effort by UkrInMash Corporation, DKKB Luch, and the Izyum Instrument Factory to adapt to the evolving needs of the Ukrainian armed forces, particularly in the context of diminishing military support from the United States.
Ukrainian volunteers have successfully transported Snatch Land Rover armored vehicles to the military, as announced by the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation, echoed by Militarnyi. The initial shipment consisted of five Snatch Land Rovers, with plans to dispatch a total of 30 such vehicles. The foundation shared, "In early November, we informed about the contracted batch of wheeled and tracked armored vehicles, and the initial five out of the 30 Snatch Land Rovers have already been delivered."
