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Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Close to a million Russian troops dead or injured in Vladimir Putin's war
Russian losses in Putin's war on Ukraine are staggering - but the Kremlin is preparing a fresh offensive even whilst talks are ongoing to achieve a peace settlement Russia has lost close to a million troops to death or injury in the war in Ukraine, latest intelligence estimates declare. The number of troops put out of battle in ferocious clashes stands at 986,080 - with a staggering 1,140 killed or injured and taken from the frontline in just 24 hours. In addition, intelligence analysis suggests, Moscow has lost 10,865 tanks and almost 40,000 drones to Ukraine's defence of the invasion. Ukraine has destroyed 1,172 anti-aircraft systems, 372 warplanes, 336 helicopters, 28 warships and boats and even a submarine. The staggering claims of Russian losses have led to Moscow having to recruit as many as 14,000 North Korean soldiers who have also suffered losses. It is believed at least 1,000 of Kim Jong-Un's troops are believed to have died in battles in Russia 's effort to drive Ukraine invading troops out of Kursk. It comes as Russia is believed to be building up a huge force of 50,000 assault troops in readiness for a new Summer offensive near Sumy, in Ukraine's north east. Kyiv has confirmed Moscow forces have managed to capture four villages close to the region's border with Russia. It is believed the Kremlin has ordered a buffer of several miles in the region. But the Sumy regional governor stated that the residents of these settlements had been evacuated long ago, and "there is no threat to civilians." The attack on Sumy was originally planned for last year but was interrupted by Ukraine's mini-invasion into Russia's Kursk region. Ukraine is also believed to have suffered significant losses although there are no official figures available. Recently, the Ukrainian military also warned that Russia may be preparing new attacks on Kharkiv as Moscow gathered its troops close to the border with the region. Fighting has intensified along all of Ukraine's frontlines, stretching for over 800 miles and across multiple regions of the country. This week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky s aid Russia mobilises around 40,000 to 45,000 men for its military every month, while Ukraine mobilises about 25,000 to 27,000. He said it is yet another indicator of Moscow intensifying its war efforts despite numerous calls from Kyiv, Brussels and Washington to agree to an unconditional ceasefire. Zelensky added: "When the US sends signals that it wants to do something positive with Russia, then Russia ramps up its mobilisation.' It comes as Ukraine's weapons developers are pushing forward with making futuristic defences using artificial intelligence. One breakthrough has been the 'robot tank' officially dubbed the Sky Sentinel which is a high-power .50-caliber M2 Browning machine gun which shoots down missiles and drones. Fitted onto a turret the device is placed near the frontline and independently of humans once it is programmed, it detects, tracks, calculates the trajectory of incoming weapons and fires. It can engage moderately fast, low-flying targets moving at speeds of up to 500mph – enough to intercept Russia's 'Kamikaze' Shahed drones, which operate at less than 120mph.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia's attack drones are flying higher and faster. A Ukrainian air defender says old machine guns aren't enough to kill them anymore.
Russia's drone attacks have become more complex and difficult to defend against. A Ukrainian team leader overseeing a mobile air defense unit said the drones fly faster and higher. He said his unit needs shoulder-launched missiles in addition to the machine guns it has been using. Russia's drone attacks are becoming increasingly complex, with enemy threats becoming harder to kill, the team leader for a Ukrainian mobile air defense unit told Business Insider. He said higher-reaching weapons are needed to beat them. Oleksiy, the deputy commander of an air defense unit with Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, said Russia's drone tactics have changed over the last few months; it is now operating drones at higher altitudes and using modified ones that can fly faster. This presents a challenge for air defenders, particularly those armed only with pickup truck-mounted machine guns. At the heart of Russia's drone attacks is the Shahed-136, an Iranian-designed weapon that Moscow now also produces at home. Historically, these one-way attack drones could fly at speeds of over 115 mph with a nearly 90-pound explosive warhead. Though the Shaheds are slower and less lethal than cruise or ballistic missiles, they are significantly cheaper, allowing Russia to launch them in large-scale attacks. Last weekend, for instance, Moscow sent 273 of them into Ukraine, marking one of its largest drone attacks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion over three years ago. Oleksiy, whose unit is tasked with protecting civilians and critical infrastructure on the outskirts of Kyiv, said that Russia still operates the conventional Shaheds. But Moscow is now using a modified version with an engine that enables it to travel at speeds of over 180 mph. It has also increased the explosive payloads of the old and new drones to more than double the original. Russia is using decoy drones, too. These don't have warheads but are designed to exhaust Ukraine's air defenses because they look convincing, appearing just as deadly as the real thing. And while they are unarmed, these drones can perform long-distance reconnaissance missions. Russia used to launch its Shaheds at low altitudes to avoid radar detection. However, it is now flying the drones higher, at over 8,000 feet — beyond the reach of the machine guns that the mobile units are using. BI previously observed Oleksiy's unit fielding a .50 caliber M2 Browning mounted in the bed of a truck. Oleksiy said that this newer tactic makes the Shaheds inaccessible to mobile fire groups like his — all they can do is observe them and report back. These loitering munitions can then gather in a specific area and simultaneously strike targets. He said that while the Ukrainians can still shoot them down, the kill figures "have begun to decrease." Russia's defense ministry and its embassy in the US did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the change in tactics described to BI. In a February intelligence update, Britain's defense ministry wrote that Russia could likely launch at least 2,000 drones each month for the entire year. On Saturday night alone, it attacked Ukraine with almost 300 drones, Kyiv said. "To overcome this altitude barrier and stably engage drones with firepower, mobile groups need to use additional weapons," like shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles, or MANPADS, Oleksiy said. MANPADS stands for Man-Portable Air Defense Systems. In Ukraine, common examples are the American-made FIM-92 Stinger or Soviet-era 9K38 Igla. These are typically used to shoot down threats like low-flying aircraft, such as helicopters, and even cruise missiles. "Right now, there is a shortage of inexpensive, hand-held MANPADS systems to shoot down drones," Oleksiy explained. "The military is ready to undergo a rapid course in MANPADS operation and use this means of destruction when it is impossible to do so with machine guns." He said that a combined-arms approach to destroying drones, like using portable missile launchers in tandem with machine guns, would strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself. "If our unit were additionally equipped with a manual MANPADS," he said, "the effectiveness of destroying air targets would increase by twofold." Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Inside the virtual battles Ukrainian soldiers are fighting with top-of-the-line fake guns to train for real combat
BI visited a facility in Kyiv where Ukrainian soldiers use virtual simulators to train for combat. One soldier training on air defense weapons said it helps him gain muscle memory with the system. The founder of the company making the simulators believes future training will be entirely virtual. A quiet, sunny day is suddenly interrupted by the hum of a Russian drone. Moments later, another appears. Then another. Suddenly, they're crisscrossing in the sky as cruise missiles soar overhead. It is fast becoming impossible to shoot everything down. This overwhelming scenario is one that Ukraine's defenders have faced repeatedly over the past three years of war, but when Business Insider experienced it, the Russian attack wasn't real. BI recently visited a training center in Kyiv where Ukrainian forces from across the military use highly immersive virtual reality simulators to get ready for a fight — engaging lethal Russian threats like drones, missiles, and aircraft. Ukrainian technology company PSS by Logics7 makes these simulators. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops have used the company's systems to sharpen their combat skills and train for real-life battles, ones in which failing to shoot down an enemy threat can have deadly consequences. "Future training systems will be only in virtual space," PSS founder Igor Belov told BI in an interview. "We do it right now." The training simulators offer Ukrainian soldiers a cheaper and faster training process. They get the same feel for the weapon without expending valuable ammunition. It's also a safer way to practice and learn, as Russia has demonstrated that it will launch deadly strikes on Ukraine's training grounds. BI observed Ukrainian soldiers training on the American-made .50-caliber M2 Browning machine gun and FIM-92 Stinger, and Soviet-era 9K38 Igla. The training weapons mimic the real deal in appearance, weight, and touch, so the soldiers develop strong muscle memory habits and become familiar with the systems. The Browning is a popular weapon for Ukrainian mobile air defense units tasked with shooting down Russian drones like the Shahed-136, Iranian-made loitering munitions; Russia also has its own domestically produced version. The heavy machine guns are often mounted in the beds of ordinary pickup trucks. The Stinger and Igla, meanwhile, are man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS. These shoulder-launched weapons can fire missiles at higher-threat targets like planes, helicopters, and even cruise missiles. The soldiers wear virtual-reality goggles and are placed in simulated battlefield scenarios. An operator can customize the combat experience, such as having drones attack from different directions or changing the weather to a low-visibility fog, making it significantly more challenging to spot and defend against threats. Igor said the simulators make the soldiers more effective in actual combat scenarios, and the soldiers can attest to that. Vitaliy, a Ukrainian soldier in an anti-aircraft unit, told BI through a translator that there's a clear difference between the simulation and firing a real gun on the battlefield. But the VR experience helps provide that muscle memory and feel that makes it easier to use the weapons in real life. Vitaliy, who is identified only by his first name for security purposes, said training on the Stinger is easier than the Igla because the American launcher provides its operator with two chances to hit a target, whereas the Soviet system only gives one. He has been in combat before, but the training helps him keep his edge. Soldiers serving in a mobile air defense unit on the outskirts of Kyiv told BI in a separate interview that simulator training helped them hone their skills on the Browning machine gun. At the facility in Kyiv, this reporter tested the Browning simulator. It was manageable at first to shoot down a few slow-moving Shahed drones traveling in a straight line, leading the airborne threats by aiming just a little ahead of the drone to ensure the interception was perfectly timed. But as more drones came in from different directions, it got more complicated. Eventually, cruise missiles were added into the mix, and the complex attack became completely overwhelming. PSS offers soldiers plenty of other weapons for Ukrainian soldiers to train with beyond air defense, such as drones, small arms, or anti-tank weapons, like the Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapon, or NLAW. The simulator service is offered to the Ukrainian military at no cost as it wages war against the Russian invasion force, but Igor said PSS can still sell its product and wants to put it on the international market for foreign militaries to try. "This system can be the main system for training in the whole world," Igor said. "It's necessary to develop as fast as we can." VR and AR training is a highly sought-after training capability. Ukraine is not the only military that uses augmented reality to train on different weapons. Last year, this reporter visited a facility at Oklahoma's Fort Sill, where American soldiers practice with Stinger simulators just like the Ukrainians. BI has also previously participated in augmented-reality room-clearing exercises at what is now Fort Barfoot. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukrainian soldiers react to Trump: If we run out of American bullets, we'll find another gun
The Trump administration recently cut the flow of military support to Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers told BI that they were upset with the decision but would keep fighting. "We are on our own land, and we want to defend it," said a soldier in an air defense unit. KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian soldiers are grappling with the weight of President Donald Trump's decisions to cut support as they continue to defend their homeland against the Russians. Soldiers serving in a mobile air defense unit just outside Kyiv shared their thoughts on the situation with Business Insider on Friday. Asking to be identified only by their first names for security reasons, they said they were disappointed but would find a way to keep up the fight. Oleksiy, one of the Ukrainian soldiers, said that he doesn't see developments as the decision of the American people but rather that of one man. "It is a pity, but we will fight." Trump directed a pause in military aid to Ukraine on March 3 as Washington sought to pressure Kyiv to engage in an expedited peace process with Russia on unfavorable terms. In the following days, the US cut intelligence sharing with Ukraine and restricted access to critical satellite imagery; the extent is unclear. These three moves left Kyiv vulnerable to an emboldened Russia on and off the battlefield. Some Ukrainian officials have said that Russia is advancing right now, Kyiv is unable to use some of its best weapons, and there are concerns about ammunition, according to recent reports. Officials told BI that the full effect of the pause in military aid remains to be seen, but the impact could very much be felt throughout Kyiv's armed forces. Air defense soldiers with Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces said the pause could end up affecting the truck-mounted .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun that they use to shoot down explosive-packed Russian drones. "If we run out of ammunition for the American machine gun, we will use other guns," Oleksiy said, adding that "even if they are of a smaller caliber, we will still do our job." The deputy air defense unit commander, whose name is also Oleksiy, said Ukrainian lives depend on US military support. "We hope this issue will be resolved in the near future," he said. "We are on our own land, and we want to defend it." Trump said during a very heated Oval Office meeting in late February — which set the reduced US support in motion — that he did not believe that Ukraine was winning the war against Russia. There is uncertainty about what could happen without more US assistance. Some Ukrainian officials and lawmakers are hopeful that Ukraine can get by relying on its booming defense industry and support from European countries, but some of the American support — specifically on air defense — is critical. Serhiy Rakhmanin, a member of Ukraine's parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, told BI earlier in the week that Ukraine could manage without American support for tactical operations at and near the front lines, but US involvement is crucial for more strategic efforts. "It's hard to say; we'll see what happens," said Svitlana, the only woman in the air defense unit. Other Ukrainians have put more weight on the US decision and warned that it could have serious consequences. Oleksandr Markushyn, a TDF commander and the mayor of Irpin, a city on the outskirts of Kyiv, told BI that he had been surprised by Trump's decisions so far. Markushyn, speaking through a translator in a separate interview on Saturday, warned that if the US does not help Ukraine, then after it, Russia might move to take over other European countries. He led Ukraine's defense of Irpin during the early weeks of Russia's invasion as Moscow's forces tried to take Kyiv. "The United States is a powerful country," Markushyn said. "And if not the United States, no one will stop Russia." The White House did not respond to a request for comment from BI on how they see recent decisions and the effects on Ukrainian soldiers. It is unclear how long the pause in military aid could last. Trump has routinely suggested that he is not satisfied with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's approach to the US efforts to end Russia's grinding full-scale invasion, which just recently passed the three-year mark. Conflict analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a DC-based think tank, said Russia will likely take advantage of the pause in US support for Ukraine and intensify its missile and drone attacks against the country. Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes over the weekend killed more than two dozen people, wounding scores more. Read the original article on Business Insider
