Category: Militarnyi-usa my life

A video of supposedly Ukrainian Special Forces fighting with mercenaries of the Wagner PMC in one of the Sudanese cities is spreading online.

The Kyiv Post published the video on its YouTube channel.

The video shows special forces walking the streets of a Sudanese city and destroying mercenaries from the Wagner PMC with firearms and grenade launchers.

This is not the first time that Ukrainian Special Forces have been used in Sudan to fight Russian mercenaries. Back in September 2023, CNN reported on the destruction of a Wagner PMC camp with the involvement of Ukrainian special services personnel and drones.

CNN cited a conversation with a Ukrainian military source who described the operation as the work of “non-Sudanese military.” When asked if Ukraine was behind the attacks, the source only said that “the responsibility is probably on the Ukrainian special services.”

According to journalists, the operation was partially carried out on the ground and included a series of drone attacks on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group supported by Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group in its fight to control the country from the Sudanese army.

In addition, on October 6, 2023, Militarnyi reported that new evidence of the involvement of Ukrainian intelligence services in the war in Sudan against Russian mercenaries of the PMC Wagner emerged.

The presence of Ukrainian security forces in the war in Sudan was confirmed by sources in intelligence circles. As confirmation, they provided videos with footage of the battles.

The footage shows the work of snipers, FPV drone attacks, and fire contact with the enemy. Other details of the operation have not yet been disclosed.

According to Western media reports, Ukraine’s interests in Sudan are linked to a long history of doing business with local companies.

Experts claim that the 3,000-strong Wagner PMC camp is located in Sudan, which helps support the activities of the Rapid Support Forces as part of a paramilitary organization that opposes the current government in the country.

The approximate number of mercenaries of the Wagner PMC in the world. Photo credits: The Telegraph

In addition, Russian mercenaries organized the delivery of weapons to the pro-government Janjaweed militia through their border base with Chad.

Ukraine buys firearms from the French company Verney-Carron S.A., which specializes in the production of rifles and accessories.

The company reported about this on its official LinkedIn page.

The relevant framework agreement was signed between Verney-Carron S.A. and Ukrspecexport for EUR 36 million.

The agreement provides for the production and transfer to the Armed Forces of Ukraine of about 12,000 rifles and 600 40 mm under-barrel grenade launchers.

The official document on the signing of the framework agreement. Photo credits: Verney-Carron S.A.

Ukraine will receive the first evaluation batch in early 2024, and the last batch will be delivered six months after the framework agreement is signed.

Among a wide range of weapons for hunting, the company produces VDC15 assault rifles in 5.56 and .300 AAC caliber, which also participated in the tender for the standard rifle for the French army.

VDC15 assault rifle. Photo credits: VERNEY-CARRON

Along with the assault rifle, the VDC family of firearms includes the 7.62x39mm VDC10 sniper rifle for infantry snipers.

The company also manufactures additional accessories for rifles and has a variety of buttstocks, handguards, and the LP40 family of 40mm under-barrel grenade launchers.

VDC10 sniper rifle for infantry snipers. Photo credits: VERNEY-CARRON

As Militarnyi previously reported, 300 Fort-600A stand-alone grenade launchers were handed over to Ukrainian paratroopers.

The 80th Air Assault Brigade said that grenade launchers were sent to the soldiers in the Bakhmut area.

“Intense fighting during the assault on the flanks of Bakhmut, a large invasion of Russian invaders, and the effective operation of automatic grenade launchers prompted us to organize the procurement of more than 300 Fort-600A grenade launchers,” the military said.

The paratroopers emphasized that these grenade launchers have ammunition, unlike Soviet-era under-barrel grenade launchers.

“I took 18 conveniently packaged rounds of ammunition for the mission. You put the Fort-600A behind your back and keep moving. But at the same time, you can inflict even more damage,” said the commander of the unit with the call sign “Jew”.

Ukrainian troops defeated a Russian armored group that tried to advance in the Kharkiv region near the occupied Pershotravneve settlement.

Ukrainian soldiers of the 14th Mechanized Brigade took the fight.

“The Ukrainian soldiers act clearly and accurately,” the brigade said of the battle.

The Russian military command sent an armored group to storm Ukrainian positions southwest of the village of Pershotravneve.

The movement of the Russian armored group was monitored by Ukrainian reconnaissance drones.

The Russian armored group consisted of infantry fighting vehicles and a tank, which moved ahead with a mine trawl and had to use it to make its way through the minefield.

The Russian military convoy immediately appeared under fire from various weapons systems, which stopped its movement.

Then the armored vehicles were finished off by Ukrainian FPV drones.

During the offensive, the Russians lost an infantry fighting vehicle and a T-80BVM main battle tank.

A Russian T-80BVM tank before being destroyed in the Kharkiv region near occupied Pershotravneve. November 2023. Ukraine. A frame from the video of the 14th Brigade

The situation remains tough for the Defense Forces of Ukraine along the entire line from Masiutivka to Yahidne settlements, where Russians are trying to advance with equipment and infantry.

Presumably, the Russian military command has set itself the goal of reoccupying the city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region.

The site of a combat engagement on the unofficial map of hostilities in the Kharkiv region near occupied Pershotravneve

As previously reported, the Ukrainian military defeated one of the Russian armored groups that tried to occupy part of the Kharkiv region between the Yahidne and Ivanivka settlements. Russian forces have been trying to capture the Ivanivka village for a long time and have already suffered significant losses in failed assaults.

The Ukrainian Air Force destroyed the Russian Askold corvette in Crimea with a missile.

Photos and videos of the destruction of the Russian ship showed Russian propaganda on Telegram.

A Karakurt-class corvette was hit with a SCALP-EG missile at the Zatoka shipyard.

Explosions in Kerch rang out on the evening of November 4.

The occupation authorities of Crimea stated that the Russian air defense worked in the area of the Butoma Shipbuilding Plant JSC, adding that part of the wreckage of downed missiles allegedly fell into the territory of one of the dry docks.

However, judging by the photos, the Russian air defense could not stop the SCALP-EG missile that hit the ship.

Destroyed Russian Askold corvette. November 2023. Ukraine, Crimea. Photo credits: Russian propaganda resources

Then the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that, as a result of a Ukrainian missile strike, a warship was damaged.

The Russians did not specify which ship it was but reported that they allegedly “shot down” 13 of the 15 cruise missiles.

The Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykola Oleshchuk, claimed that the strike was carried out by Ukrainian tactical aircraft.

SCALP EG missile under the wing of the Ukrainian Su-24M bomber. August 2023. Frame from the Ihor Smilyanskyi`s video

“Well done, it’s like using the SCALPel!” the Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force wrote, hinting that the aircraft used the French version of the Franco-British cruise missile.

Askold was laid down on November 18, 2015, under factory number 802 at the Kerch Zatoka shipyard.

Russian Askold corvette. 2022. Ukraine, Crimea. Photo credits: kchf.ru

It was launched on September 21, 2021, and was under testing. It had been preparing to be put into service at the end of 2023.

In 2024, Ukraine will allocate funds for the development of cartridge production capabilities.

This was told by Herman Smetanin, General Director of the Ukroboronprom State Concern.

According to him, in 2024, seven times more funds will be allocated from the budget for the development, modernization, and development of the defense industry than in 2023.

“Some of these funds will go to the development of capabilities for the production of cartridges,” said German Smetanin.

Herman Smetanin explained that cartridges’ production exists in Ukraine. However, they aren’t produced by local companies, and production quantities are insufficient.

Illustrative photo with the production of cartridges

Taras Chmut, Head of the Come Back Alive Foundation, also added that Ukrainian representatives are studying the foreign production of cartridges for possible localization.

“In October, I went with a non-state (not with government representatives – ed.) to one of the European countries to see their production of cartridges to study the possibilities of localization in Ukraine,” said Taras Chmut.

After the Russian occupation of the Luhansk Cartridge Plant in 2014, Ukroboronprom lost its cartridge production capacity.

Since then, only one small private enterprise has produced cartridges, although officials each year are promising to resume cartridge production at the state level.

Luhansk Cartridge Plant. Ukraine. Photo credits: ostro.org

The construction of a new cartridge plant was planned for 2016. In the summer of 2017, the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council initiated the allocation of UAH 1.4 billion for the purchase of equipment and the construction of an ammunition factory.

In 2018, the Vinnytsia Fort plant launched a full-cycle line for the production of pistols’ cartridges for the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Production of cartridges at the Fort plant. 2018. Ukraine. Photo credits: Ministry of Internal Affairs

Currently, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are being actively equipped with cartridges by the United States and other allies, who transfer millions of small arms cartridges to the package. Recently, the United States handed over to Ukraine a batch of confiscated Iranian cartridges.

Russian troops are trying to advance toward Ukrainian positions near Novomykhailivka in the dark.

One of such attempts was stopped by soldiers of the 79th Air Assault Brigade.

In this sector, the Russian command is trying out new tactics in the Donetsk region.

Under the cover of dense fog, the invaders sought to storm the paratroopers’ frontline positions at night.

Ukrainian airborne reconnaissance detected the approaching Russian convoy in time and launched an attack.

“As a result, the enemy lost four pieces of equipment and retreated,” the Ukrainian military said.

The Russians tried to reach the Ukrainian positions with BMP-1 and converted MT-LB armored personnel carriers, which were equipped with an open landing compartment.

The BMP-1 was equipped with the RP-377UVM system, which is designed to jam the radio control channels of mine explosive devices.

The device generates broadband interference signals across the entire operating frequency spectrum, effectively blocking control signals from the “trigger” to the actuator.

A damaged Russian BMP-1 equipped with an RP-377UVM system near Novomykhailivka. November 2023. Ukraine. Frame from the video of the 79th Brigade

On November 6, the Ukrainian General Staff also confirmed that the military repelled attacks in the area of Marinka and Novomykhailivka settlements.

The Russian military command has been trying to gain control of the territory from Marinka to Novomykhailivka for a long time.

The site of a combat engagement on the unofficial map of hostilities near Novomykhailivka

To do this, armored groups are sent to the assault, often suffering losses. At the end of October, Ukrainian paratroopers defeated Russian armored vehicles that were advancing in the Marinka sector.

The tragical incident that took the lives of soldiers of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade was discussed at the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that the Brigade Commander had been suspended until the end of the investigation.

The President of Ukraine also noted that at the meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff, the reports on the issue were provided by Defense Minister Rustem Umierov, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk, Defense Ministry Inspector Voronchenko, and other military.

Zelensky added that, as reported by officials, “it has already been possible to find out from the circumstances of the tragedy whose orders created the conditions for the tragedy to occur.”

“The Brigade Commander has been suspended until the inquiry is completed,” Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo credits: mass media of Ukraine

He also emphasized that the entire situation is being analyzed minute by minute, and “it will be established who specifically violated the rules for the safety of people in the area of access to enemy aerial reconnaissance.”

The tragedy of the brigade

On November 3, Russian troops fired an Iskander-M missile at the personnel of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade in the Zaporizhzhia region, killing the soldiers.

The blast wave and debris damaged about 30 houses and outbuildings located near the impact site.

Defense Minister Rustem Umierov assured that “all the circumstances of what happened will be clarified.” He ordered “a full investigation into this tragedy”.

The State Bureau of Investigation also stated that it is investigating the circumstances of the tragic deaths of military personnel and civilians as a result of a missile attack by Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region on November 3.

Iskander-M SRBM of the Russian Armed Forces with a cruise missile. Photo credits: Russian Defense Ministry

An internal investigation has been initiated into the actions of military officials who organized the event dedicated to the Day of the Missile and Artillery Forces near the front line.

As previously reported, the soldiers of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade are actively participating in the war to repel Russian aggression and have already inflicted significant losses on the invaders.

One of the Russian propaganda videos captures the wreckage of the Su-24М front-line bomber, which the invaders lost in the Donetsk region.

The footage was published on social media.

A Russian bomber fell on a residential high-rise in temporarily occupied Soledar.

It is currently unknown when the invaders lost this aircraft.

An enemy Su-24М with the registration number RF-92025 (tail number 48 “blue”) could have been shot down by the Ukrainian air defense or with MANPADS during the battles for the city in the Donetsk region. Alternatively, the Russian bomber could have fallen due to technical malfunctions.

Wreckage of a Russian Su-24M with registration number RF-92025 in Soledar, 2023. Russian propaganda footage

The bomber belonged to the 37th Mixed Aviation Regiment, based at the Hvardiiske air base in temporarily occupied Crimea.

Russian Su-24M with registration number RF-92025. Photo from open sources

The regiment was created in 2014 and has two squadrons with Su-25SM attack aircraft and Su-24М front-line bombers.

It is worth noting that the aircraft could have been flown by both pilots officially in the service of the Russian Armed Forces and retired pilots hired by the so-called Wagner PMC. At the same time, the Su-24M bears the insignia of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The practice of involving mercenary pilots in the war against Ukraine by the Russian so-called private military company Wagner was reported last year.

The Ukrainian military repeatedly destroyed and damaged Russian Su-24М bombers in the Donetsk region, namely near the city of Bakhmut.

Soldiers of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar” shot down at least one such Russian bomber. The explosion after the plane crashed was captured on video.

The United States military placed an order for Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV).

Oshkosh Defense received the order from the U.S. Army Contracting Command.

The total value of the contract to supply an unspecified number of armored vehicles and trailers (JLTV-T) and related equipment is $208 million.

As part of this order, the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) armored vehicles will be delivered to the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force.

The JLTV was designed to replace the aging uparmored HMMWV fleet with a vehicle providing better protection, mobility, and a greater payload capacity.

An Army HMMWV (left) and a U.S. Army JLTV armored vehicle. Photo from open sources

JLTV

Since winning the initial JLTV contract in 2015, Oshkosh Defense has received orders for over 23,000 JLTVs for the U.S. Armed Forces and NATO and Allied and Coalition partners.

Workers at the Oshkosh Defense plant and the 20,000th JLTV. Photo credits: Oshkosh Defense

On June 1, 2023, the 20,000th JLTV armored vehicle rolled off the production line of the US company Oshkosh Defense.

The Oshkosh JLTV is available in various versions to meet the different needs of the military. The modular design of the armored vehicle allows for the rapid installation of a variety of weapons, communications, and other special equipment.

In addition to the United States, the armored vehicle is already in use by the armies of Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Brazil. Other customers of the armored vehicle are Belgium, Poland, and Romania.

JLTV assembly at the Oshkosh Defense plant. Photo from open sources

In May 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded a contract to supply 20,000 JLTVs worth $4,653,330,000. This includes the cost of armored vehicles, trailers, and production support kits and services, with a contract completion date of February 9, 2028.

eJLTV armored vehicle. Photo credits: Oshkosh Defense

In January 2022, Oshkosh Defense introduced a silent version of the JLTV tactical armored vehicle with a hybrid-electric propulsion system called the eJLTV. The vehicle with the new power plant, among other things, provides fuel savings of 20% compared to a conventional diesel engine.

eJLTV armored vehicle. Photo credits: Oshkosh Defense

The company claims that this version of the armored vehicle is as effective and protected as the regular production version of the JLTV but also allows to drive more quietly.

The number of mobile air defense teams in Ukraine will continue to increase.

Yurii Ihnat, Air Force spokesman, reported on this.

According to him, the creation of such teams is a necessary step. They are needed to strengthen the protection of strategic facilities and critical infrastructure from Russian drones.

“Mobile air defense teams will continue to be built up because there is no other way out but to defend in numbers. We have to understand that large air defense must protect strategic objects of the state, must protect Ukraine from the appearance of Russian aircraft in the Ukrainian sky and perform a role at the upper echelon, at greater distances,” Ihnat shared.

According to the Air Force spokesman, mobile air defense teams are a forced step taken by the military leadership of Ukraine to locally protect infrastructure and other state and strategic military facilities that could potentially come under enemy attack.

Viktor anti-aircraft systems of the Ukrainian military, 2023. Photo credits: Joint Forces Command

Yurii Ihnat noted that the radius of application of mobile air defense teams is not too large, so they are constantly looking for different methods and ways to improve their work.

In particular, additional equipment and high-speed vehicles are introduced to allow them to move quickly and take up a favorable position from which to more effectively engage enemy drones.

The Command of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that training and formation of new mobile air defense teams is underway in the north of Ukraine.

Mobile air defense teams received special equipment from the Come Back Alive Foundation, October 2023. Photo from social networks of the foundation

The Come Back Alive Foundation has transferred the first specially designed telecommunication kits to mobile air defense teams.

Vehicles for Mobile AA Teams in the Kyiv region. October 2023. Ukraine. Photo credits: Kyiv Regional Military Administration

In October, the Kyiv region donated 45 off-road vehicles with special equipment for mobile air defense teams. 39 Mitsubishi L200 vehicles were purchased for them in the Mykolaiv region.

Vehicles for mobile air defense teams in the Mykolaiv region. October 2023. Ukraine. Photo credits: Vitalii Kim

Mobile air defense teams

With the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, mobile air defense teams were established to quickly strengthen air defense.

Mobile air defense teams

They mostly move with off-road vehicles equipped with large-caliber machine guns and small-caliber anti-aircraft guns. Such groups are reinforced by operators of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).