As Russia launched the heaviest wave of missile and drone attacks against Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have been visiting near the front lines.
Zelensky wrote: “I visited the positions of the 110th mechanized brigade 'Marko Bezruchko'. One of the most difficult places on the front. I personally thanked the warriors. We discussed the defense situation and the most important needs of our troops with the commander. I honored the best military personnel with state awards and presented the Golden Star of the Hero of Ukraine to Sergeant Ihor Timoshchuk. I thanked everyone on the front lines for their service this year. Thanks to these warriors, our entire country withstood this. Everyone who defends our country against all odds. Those who deliver battle results every day.”
Understandably, Zelensky did not reveal the exact location of his visit, although open source information based on the video he released suggests the Ukrainian leader was just a few kilometers from some of the heaviest fighting in the country.
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According to the US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia's use of punitive battalions in the war in Ukraine has now expanded to include the use of Ukrainian prisoners of war. As the ISW points out, such a policy violates the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War.
With Russia facing “extreme difficulty” replenishing the ranks of its combat infantry, according to an October analysis by Britain’s Ministry of Defense, the Kremlin is relying heavily on convicts in so-called Shtorm-Z penal units.
“These enterprise-sized groups were likely first deployed in 2022. “There is a realistic possibility that Russia originally envisioned them as relatively elite organizations that could take the tactical initiative,” the British Ministry of Defense published on X.
In this recent example, a seemingly civilian car with a member of the Russian military or pro-Russian separatist behind the wheel attempts to avoid the attention of a Ukrainian FPV drone. The car overturns before being destroyed by the drone.
Shown here are the results of another Ukrainian FPV drone attack on a Russian military transporter of the UAZ-452 series “Bukhanka”. In this case, the occupants are said to have survived.
It is also interesting to see how FPV operators train to use their drones. In this example from Russia, the drone operators are tasked with attacking a floating balloon target. The drone is then caught in a net for reuse.
Now more Ukrainian FPV footage, including some very clear footage showing the successful battle of a Russian T-72 tank, reportedly in the Donetsk region. The drone is seen entering the tank through a turret hatch, resulting in a colossal detonation as the ammunition cooks away and a “turret throw”.
It is noteworthy that the tank is equipped with a “cope cage” protective screen above the turret, which is intended to repel mortar shells dropped by drones and drone attacks from above. In this case, the accuracy of FPV drone delivery makes the top cage unusable.
Another remarkable turret throw can be seen in the next video, which shows the destruction of an 8×8-wheeled armored personnel carrier of the Ukrainian BTR series.
Sergei Chemezov, the head of state defense conglomerate Rostec, recently said: “Work is underway on an improved version.” [UMPK] Modules that will significantly increase the operational range of aerial bombs.”
As we reported earlier this week, Ukrainian authorities have noted a significant decline in Russian airstrikes, particularly those involving glide bombs, after a spate of recent casualties.
Longer-range versions of the UMPK glide bombs may well be the Russian response to these changing realities.
According to Bloomberg, North Korea has delivered millions of artillery shells to Russia. According to South Korean intelligence services, Pyongyang has now increased its deliveries of this urgently needed ammunition, with the first of them apparently being delivered in the fall. The extent of the deliveries is confirmed by satellite images that show the transport of arms shipments from North Korea to Russia.
An interesting infantry weapon that has recently appeared in Ukraine – reportedly in the hands of a Swedish volunteer – is the FN Herstal FN40GL 40mm grenade launcher in standalone form. This weapon first appeared in early June when Ukraine's counteroffensive began, but this is one of the best views we have of it so far. The grenade launcher fires standard 40mm NATO grenade ammunition and is also designed to be mounted on FN Herstal SCAR series assault rifles.
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, decoys of various types have proliferated on the battlefield, some far more faithful to the original than others.
In the less convincing category falls this Russian replica of the Pantsir-S1 air defense system. For comparison, you can find a photo of the original system below.
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