“Ukraine – Russia”

Sometimes the metaphors write themselves. As Putin purportedly seeks to showcase the illusion of Russian strength by parading a captured British Saxon armoured personnel carrier from the 1970s in Red Square – donated to Ukraine in 2015 from mothballed British stocks – Ukrainian saboteurs are deep behind Russian lines actually doing the business.

Whereas Russia is desperate to display ‘destroyed’ western kit, Ukraine is hard at work eroding Russian capacity and, crucially, hitting Moscow where it hurts – inside its own borders. The news today that two railway lines in Russia have been destroyed is a clear example of an evolving strategy designed to hurt a security-obsessed Putin and degrade Moscow’s ability to wage war.

NATO countries have failed to deliver in good time what they promised to Ukraine, the alliance’s chief said Monday, as Russia rushes to exploit its battlefield advantages before Kyiv’s depleted forces get more Western military supplies in the war that has lasted more than two years.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that “serious delays in support have meant serious consequences on the battlefield” for Ukraine.

“NATO allies have not delivered what they promised,” Stoltenberg said at a news conference in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, referring to delays by the U.S. and Europe in sending weapons and ammunition.

🎥 Russian troops have evacuated the first US-made M1 Abrams tank from the front line near Avdeyevka, Chief Press Officer of Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr Alexander Savchuk told Sputnik.

According to him, soon everyone will be able to see the trophy at an exhibition of NATO… pic.twitter.com/6nut4KgfBL

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) April 29, 2024

h/t Mauser

OTTAWA – The federal government is earmarking $3 million for production of drones in Ukraine in support of Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s invasion.

Defence Minister Bill Blair says the financial assistance is being made in collaboration with the United Kingdom.

Speaking with a group of defence leaders, Blair also announced $13 million for the Czech Republic’s effort to provide ammunition to Ukraine.

The arrival of the US M1A1 Abrams tanks in Ukraine was hailed as a turning point in the war. Coming in at roughly $10 million a unit, the Nato stalwart was supposed to provide the armoured fist that would punch through the Russian lines. But tactics evolve quickly in warfare, and Russia’s use of surveillance and hunter-killer drones has led to heavy casualties for Ukraine’s tank fleets. This is alarming for NATO. If Russia has found critical vulnerabilities in our armour, our borders are beginning to look very vulnerable.

Ukraine has begun using longer-range ballistic missiles against Russia that were secretly provided by the US, American officials have confirmed.

The weapons were sent as part of a previous US support package, and arrived this month. Officials said they were not announced publicly to maintain Ukraine’s “operational security”.

They have already been used at least once to strike Russian targets in occupied Crimea.

A $61bn package of military aid for Ukraine could be signed off within days. So what weapons might it receive and what difference could they make in trying to stem Russian advances?

Air defence systems, mid to long-range missiles and artillery shells remain the most pressing weaponry needed by Ukraine.

Here is where the US aid could go in these three areas. About a third of the package goes on replenishing depleted US stocks.

Ukraine’s efforts to drive back Russian troops received a massive boost as the US House of Representatives approved $60.8 billion in military support.

Eight months after President Biden first requested more money for Kyiv, the House voted 311-112 to back the bill, part of a funding package that also includes aid for Israel, Gaza and Taiwan.

There were cheers as the vote passed, with Democrats waving Ukrainian flags, in violation of House rules and chanting: “Ukraine! Ukraine!”

Russian national Oleg Ponomaryov’s asylum application was turned down by Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) at the end of February. BAMF said he was at no risk in Russia and should leave Germany within 30 days. If not, he could expect to be deported.

Ponomaryov’s despair is palpable. He fears he will be arrested as soon as he arrives in Russia and be sent to fight against Ukraine.

“The situation in Russia is getting worse and worse, a total mobilization is on the cards and my fitness level and driving license allow me to drive military vehicles,” says Ponomaryov, who came to Germany in September 2022 after Russia announced a partial mobilization.