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Ukraine - Russia Invasion conflict
 
 
 
 

On November 1, 2023, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported that soldiers from the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR), the Special Operations Forces (SSO), and the 1st separate special forces brigade discovered and destroyed a Russian Podlet-K1 mobile radar station using a drone strike. This incident marked the third confirmed destruction of such equipment, which is estimated to be worth $5.5 million. The operation took place in the border zone near the village of Krasnaya Polyana in the Shebekino district of the Belgorod region, Russia.

According to Igor Sushko on November 3, 2023, Ukraine deployed an improved variant of its Hrim-2 short-range ballistic missile system, successfully striking a Russian target at a range of 700 km. This surprising revelation came from Brigadier General Serhiy Baranov, head of the Main Directorate of Missile Forces and Artillery and Unmanned Systems of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during an interview with Armiya FM.

As reported by Praise the Steph on November 3, 2023, the Ukrainian 45th Separate Artillery Brigade shared images of the first deployment of the Swedish Archer 155mm 6x6 self-propelled howitzer, equipped with Barracuda camouflage, by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in combat operations. This artillery unit is also known to operate American M777 and French TRF1 155mm towed howitzers.

According to Informator UA on November 2, 2023, Ukrainian engineers from the Dnipropetrovsk region recently unveiled a specialized robot designed for use in Medical Evacuation (MedEvac) operations. This innovation aims to bridge the critical time gap between injuries occurring on the battlefield and the delivery of necessary medical attention, where most casualties typically occur.

On November 1, 2023, a video surfaced on Ukrainian social media platforms showcasing the Ukrainian armed forces' successful neutralization of a Russian Krasukha-4 electronic warfare system, valued at $2.6 million, in the Zaporizhia region. The operation was executed using two JDAM-guided bombs. Known for its jamming capabilities against satellite and radar signals, the Krasukha-4 advanced military system was effectively destroyed by the Ukrainian army with support from the 14th Autonomous Drone Regiment's UAVs.

As reported by Militarnyi on October 28, 2023, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS) received its first domestically produced unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) designed for demining tasks during a demonstration in Kharkiv. This UGV appears to be based on a T-150-05-09, a tracked tractor manufactured by KhTZ (Kharkiv Tractor Plant). The T-150 can be configured as either wheeled or tracked.

As reported by The New York Times on October 28, 2023, Ukraine initiated an unconventional program known as the FrankenSAM initiative to enhance its air defense capabilities. The FrankenSAM program represents an innovative approach that combines modern Western surface-to-air missiles with retrofitted Soviet-era launchers and radars already in Ukraine's military inventory.

According to Ukrainska Pravda on October 26, 2023, the Defense Forces of Ukraine have recently acquired 206 domestically-produced Heavy Shot Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). These acquisitions were made under the "Army of Drones" state program, aimed at strengthening Ukraine's Armed Forces capabilities through the increased use of drones.

According to Yonhap on October 27, 2023, the British defense ministry has expressed concerns regarding the potential arrival of North Korean munitions in western Russia, with suggestions that they may be intended for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Amid persistent speculations surrounding arms transfers, the British ministry stated that it is "almost certain" that North Korean munitions have been delivered to ammunition depots in western Russia.

According to Militarnyi on October 24, 2023, the Serhiy Prytula Foundation recently donated one complete Shark UAS system, comprising a ground control station and two Shark unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. These UASs were handed over to the 24th separate mechanized brigade named after King Danylo. 

Ukrainian volunteers from Vinnytsia installed a multiple rocket launcher on a US-supplied AM General HMMWV, Militarnyi reports. In one of the enterprises located in Vinnytsia, volunteers have already been producing light anti-aircraft gun carriers based on pickups for over a year. "The advantage of such installations is mobility and inconspicuousness, which makes them very effective for point strikes," the volunteers said.

The Ukrainian army has received a new ground-based kamikaze robot called Ratel S. The ground-based drone has already completed testing and has begun mass production. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister of the Ukrainian government Mikhail Fedorov, who is responsible for the development of various technologies.

According to Ukrainian Front on October 21, 2023, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have recently taken delivery of a shipment of Senator MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) armored vehicles, which are manufactured by the Canadian company Roshel. According to statements from Roman Shimonov, the CEO of Roshel, Ukraine has procured a total of over 750 Senator vehicles, including more than 300 MRAP, a variant launched in the first quarter of 2023.

Militarnyi brodcasted a video of the Ukrainian Air Force released by the Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk demonstrating its use of the MIM-23 HAWK air defense missiles. This air defense system shot down aerial targets during the Russian shelling of Ukraine on the night of Monday, October 23.

In an interview with Voice of America on October 16, 2023, Colonel Martin O’Donnell, a spokesperson for US Army Europe and Africa, confirmed that all 31 M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) promised to Ukraine by the Biden administration have been delivered, along with ammunition and spare tank parts, as suspected in this previous article dated on August 8, 2023. Ukrainian personnel, who received training alongside US forces in Germany, have also returned to Ukraine, prepared to operate the newly acquired tanks.

As reported by Btvt on October 15, 2023, the 110th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed a Russian BTR-50P armored personnel carrier, along with a T-64BV tank equipped with a KMT-6 mine trawl, in the ongoing conflict for Avdiivka, a city located in Ukraine's Donbas region. This marks the first documented loss of a BTR-50P, the first Soviet armored personnel carrier with origins dating back to the Stalin era.

Ukraine has employed MGM-140A ATACMS ballistic missiles for the first time. On the night of October 16, units from the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) and the Armed Forces carried out precision strikes targeting two key Russian airbases in Berdiansk and Luhansk. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the use of these advanced, U.S.-supplied missiles in both successful operations. Debris from the missile and unexploded M74 APAM submunitions conclusively verify that the MGM-140A variant was used in these strikes.

On October 17, 2023, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the deployment of the TOS-2 Tosochka 220mm thermobaric rocket launcher vehicle in Ukraine. This statement, shared on Russian social media, corroborated an earlier report by Army Recognition on September 4, 2023. This vehicle, a part of NRBC units, was employed against Ukrainian fortifications with extended-range projectiles.

As reported by Ukraine's Ministry of Health on October 16, 2023, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have taken delivery of the first Gurkha 4x4 armored ambulance out of a planned thirteen. These ambulances are intended for the safe evacuation of wounded individuals from the front lines to the nearest medical facilities. The acquisition of these armored ambulances cost a total of 124 million hryvnias (€3.24 million), with funding support from the UNITED24 initiative amounting to 9,532,000 hryvnias (€248,759).

According to Andrei_bt on October 13, 2023, in a surprising turn of events, a rare Russian military vehicle, the BTR-90 'Rostok' infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), was spotted in Ukraine, near the city of Avdiivka, located in the Donbas region. In total, only 12 BTR-90 armored personnel carriers (APCs) were ever built, including all variants. The BTR-90, officially adopted by the Russian Armed Forces through Order No. 324 on June 9, 2008, was never mass-produced.

As reported by Ukrainian Front on October 12, 2023, the Viktor short air defense system, produced in the Czech Republic, has been added to the inventory of Ukraine's 117th separate Territorial Defense Brigade. This deployment reflects Ukraine's ongoing efforts to enhance its air defense capabilities, as these systems are crucial in safeguarding critical assets like airbases, command and control centers, military equipment, and logistical hubs.

On October 11, 2023, the UK Defense Secretary announced a new military assistance package for Ukraine, valued at over £100 million. This package includes the delivery of the MSI-DS Terrahawk Paladin Very Short-Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) system. This marks the first instance of Ukraine receiving the Paladin system to enhance its air defense capabilities, particularly in countering the threat posed by Russian drones. The package, as described in this article, aims to support Ukraine's counter-offensive efforts, focusing on minefield clearance, vehicle maintenance, and fortifying defensive infrastructure.

Ivan Sybyriakov, the manager of the unmanned systems center at Ukrainian state-owned SpetsTechnoExport (STE), recently reported that the Ukrainian army is currently operating "thousands" of Lithuanian counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UASs). This significant deployment underscores the vital role that Lithuanian technology is playing in strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities, particularly against Russian drone threats.

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