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Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I'm a ballroom dancer who joined Ukraine's special forces. The war took my leg, but I have no regrets signing up.
Serhii Nazarenko, a Ukrainian special forces officer, was a ballroom dancer before the war. He joined the NGU's Omega group in early 2024, training for six weeks before fighting Russian troops. Nazarenko told BI what it was like to lose his right leg to a land mine in October. This is as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Serhii Nazarenko, a 31-year-old Kyiv resident who taught ballroom dancing for 11 years before the war. He is now an officer and machine gunner of the NGU's elite Omega group. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. I was wide awake when I lost my leg. We were in Luhansk, and my squad was ordered to assault a Russian position in the treelines. All I could see was the soil flying as I toppled over. Then I remember seeing my commander frozen, shock in his eyes, as I lay on the ground. Three seconds later, he started shouting. I'd stepped on a land mine. "Apply your tourniquet on your leg," he yelled. Emotionless, I dug my tourniquet out of my vest and tied it around my right leg. Or what was left of it. By the time we retreated and I was evacuated to the hospital, I knew that almost everything below my right knee was gone. We were incredibly lucky. Everyone else in my squad was safe and with no injuries, and we returned home that day. I've been part of the Ukrainian National Guard's Omega group since early 2024. As special forces, we're deployed to assist different brigades along the front lines, conducting rescue missions, reconnaissance, and raids. As a machine gunner, my job was to provide suppressive fire and sometimes lead portions of an assault with light machine guns such as the Soviet PKM or NATO-standard M240. That was until October, when I was sent back to Kyiv, my hometown, to recover from my leg injury. I never thought I'd join the military. Before Russia invaded in 2022, I was a sales relations manager for a customer service company headquartered in Arizona. While working full-time, I also taught ballroom dancing — a craft I'd been pursuing since my mother took me for lessons when I was 12. For over 10 years, I performed onstage and trained students at a dance school in Kyiv. In 2021, I was also a choreographer for the Ukrainian version of "Dancing with the Stars." When Russia invaded my country in 2022, I joined Ukraine's National Guard. Our first mission was to defend Hostomel as Russian paratroopers tried to take the airfields, though I was at the rear because I was new. Then, we were assigned to attack the infamous Russian column of armored vehicles stuck on the road to Kyiv. After the Russians retreated, I was mostly sent to patrol areas that Ukraine had already retaken, keeping the peace in cities under our control. I felt like I could do more. I kept thinking that I hadn't done my job for my country yet, so I applied to Omega. The process to join took several weeks. I had to apply through a Google Form, participate in an interview, and take a physical test. Omega accepts members from many walks of life, but it is selective. The most important skill they looked for was my capacity to learn quickly. I had some combat experience, but I had to be proficient in various weapons beyond my standard-issue assault rifle, such as machine guns and grenade launchers. I spent about six weeks training with Omega and integrating into my unit. You can train for as long as you like, but the real combat situation is when you show your real ability to fight. Your best test is the front line. A key part of being an Omega member is being able to adapt. Each day, you're learning new information about your equipment, about weapons, about tactics, about strategy, about drones, about reconnaissance. My deployments with Omega were different from my time protecting cities in the rear. We rotated with other Omega soldiers on the front line, often fighting in close contact with the enemy, like clearing multistory apartment buildings, floor by floor, in Zaporizhzhia. War is nothing like in video games or Hollywood. It's messy. Out of all my missions, one left the deepest impact. We were sent to help the crew of an armored vehicle that came under Russian mortar fire. Even though we warned them to wait for us, they got out of their vehicle to repair it, and a mortar round struck them. One of them died, and we were forced to change our mission to focus on evacuating the wounded. We see every day how warfare is changing. Even though I'm in the special forces, not everything depends on your skill. When a drone comes to attack you, you hide. It doesn't matter who you are — the drone or mortar just hits you, and that's it. The biggest pressure in Omega is to be reliable for your teammates, so we all know we can depend on each other. When I stepped on the land mine and lost my leg, my first thought was: "I'm the bad person because I didn't do my job. Now we have to go back because of me." After October, I was given a prosthetic leg, and now I've been back at my unit for the last three weeks. So far, I'm helping out with public events and other tasks away from combat, while waiting for my sports prosthetic so that I can start training to run again and hopefully fight one day. When the war is over, we'll need to rebuild Ukraine's cultural scene. So many of our dancers and artists have died. Losing my leg will severely hurt my dancing ability, because although I have a prosthetic leg, I've lost my right foot. Still, if given a choice, I'd do it all again: Joining the National Guard in 2022 and then Omega in 2024. I know why I'm doing my job, for my family and homeland; I have a wife and a five-year-old daughter in Kyiv. For now, we can't think about dancing when our country's children are dying. But I want to return to the ballroom when the fighting is done. At least, I'll try. People will probably be able to tell that I'm wearing prosthetics, but I still want to perform. Hopefully, it will be a beautiful dance. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
30-05-2025
- Business Insider
I'm a ballroom dancer who joined Ukraine's special forces. The war took my leg, but I have no regrets signing up.
This is as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Serhii Nazarenko, a 31-year-old Kyiv resident who taught ballroom dancing for 11 years before the war. He is now an officer and machine gunner of the NGU's elite Omega group. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. I was wide awake when I lost my leg. We were in Luhansk, and my squad was ordered to assault a Russian position in the treelines. All I could see was the soil flying as I toppled over. Then I remember seeing my commander frozen, shock in his eyes, as I lay on the ground. Three seconds later, he started shouting. I'd stepped on a land mine. "Apply your tourniquet on your leg," he yelled. Emotionless, I dug my tourniquet out of my vest and tied it around my right leg. Or what was left of it. By the time we retreated and I was evacuated to the hospital, I knew that almost everything below my right knee was gone. We were incredibly lucky. Everyone else in my squad was safe and with no injuries, and we returned home that day. I've been part of the Ukrainian National Guard's Omega group since early 2024. As special forces, we're deployed to assist different brigades along the front lines, conducting rescue missions, reconnaissance, and raids. As a machine gunner, my job was to provide suppressive fire and sometimes lead portions of an assault with light machine guns such as the Soviet PKM or NATO-standard M240. That was until October, when I was sent back to Kyiv, my hometown, to recover from my leg injury. Before I fought the Russians, I danced I never thought I'd join the military. Before Russia invaded in 2022, I was a sales relations manager for a customer service company headquartered in Arizona. While working full-time, I also taught ballroom dancing — a craft I'd been pursuing since my mother took me for lessons when I was 12. For over 10 years, I performed onstage and trained students at a dance school in Kyiv. In 2021, I was also a choreographer for the Ukrainian version of "Dancing with the Stars." When Russia invaded my country in 2022, I joined Ukraine's National Guard. Our first mission was to defend Hostomel as Russian paratroopers tried to take the airfields, though I was at the rear because I was new. Then, we were assigned to attack the infamous Russian column of armored vehicles stuck on the road to Kyiv. After the Russians retreated, I was mostly sent to patrol areas that Ukraine had already retaken, keeping the peace in cities under our control. I felt like I could do more. I kept thinking that I hadn't done my job for my country yet, so I applied to Omega. The process to join took several weeks. I had to apply through a Google Form, participate in an interview, and take a physical test. Fighting in Ukraine's special forces Omega accepts members from many walks of life, but it is selective. The most important skill they looked for was my capacity to learn quickly. I had some combat experience, but I had to be proficient in various weapons beyond my standard-issue assault rifle, such as machine guns and grenade launchers. I spent about six weeks training with Omega and integrating into my unit. You can train for as long as you like, but the real combat situation is when you show your real ability to fight. Your best test is the front line. A key part of being an Omega member is being able to adapt. Each day, you're learning new information about your equipment, about weapons, about tactics, about strategy, about drones, about reconnaissance. My deployments with Omega were different from my time protecting cities in the rear. We rotated with other Omega soldiers on the front line, often fighting in close contact with the enemy, like clearing multistory apartment buildings, floor by floor, in Zaporizhzhia. War is nothing like in video games or Hollywood. It's messy. Out of all my missions, one left the deepest impact. We were sent to help the crew of an armored vehicle that came under Russian mortar fire. Even though we warned them to wait for us, they got out of their vehicle to repair it, and a mortar round struck them. One of them died, and we were forced to change our mission to focus on evacuating the wounded. We see every day how warfare is changing. Even though I'm in the special forces, not everything depends on your skill. When a drone comes to attack you, you hide. It doesn't matter who you are — the drone or mortar just hits you, and that's it. The biggest pressure in Omega is to be reliable for your teammates, so we all know we can depend on each other. When I stepped on the land mine and lost my leg, my first thought was: "I'm the bad person because I didn't do my job. Now we have to go back because of me." Returning to the war after losing a leg After October, I was given a prosthetic leg, and now I've been back at my unit for the last three weeks. So far, I'm helping out with public events and other tasks away from combat, while waiting for my sports prosthetic so that I can start training to run again and hopefully fight one day. When the war is over, we'll need to rebuild Ukraine's cultural scene. So many of our dancers and artists have died. Losing my leg will severely hurt my dancing ability, because although I have a prosthetic leg, I've lost my right foot. Still, if given a choice, I'd do it all again: Joining the National Guard in 2022 and then Omega in 2024. I know why I'm doing my job, for my family and homeland; I have a wife and a five-year-old daughter in Kyiv. For now, we can't think about dancing when our country's children are dying. But I want to return to the ballroom when the fighting is done. At least, I'll try. People will probably be able to tell that I'm wearing prosthetics, but I still want to perform. Hopefully, it will be a beautiful dance.
News18
09-05-2025
- News18
What Are Asisguard Songar Drones? Turkey-Made UAV Used By Pakistan In Brazen Attack On India
Last Updated: Songar is equipped with 5.56 mm NATO-standard firearms, boasts automatic fire stabilisation, and is capable of autonomous take-off and landing India on Friday accused Pakistan of deploying Turkish-made drones in a large-scale, unprovoked attack on Indian military installations on Thursday night. At an Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force(IAF) confirmed that Turkish-origin armed drones—Asisguard Songar—were used in the brazen assault, which Indian forces responded swiftly, neutralising the threat using both kinetic and non-kinetic measures. 'On the night of May 8-9, Pakistan carried out large-scale violations of Indian airspace, attempting to target military infrastructure with 300-400 drones across 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek," said Singh. What Are Songar Drones? Turkey's First Armed UAV System The Songar drone, developed by Turkish defence firm Asisguard, is the first armed drone inducted into the Turkish military's arsenal. It was officially added to their inventory in 2020 and later integrated with armoured land vehicles in 2021 to enhance surveillance and strike capabilities during cross-border missions. According to Defence Turkey magazine and the company's official website, the Songar is equipped with 5.56 mm NATO-standard firearms, boasts automatic fire stabilisation, and is capable of autonomous take-off and landing. These features make it highly effective for military and internal security operations, especially in rugged or sensitive terrain. Songar drones can be configured for both reconnaissance and combat roles, allowing them to neutralise targets with precision and relay real-time intelligence to command centres. The current standoff between India and Pakistan intensified following India's Operation Sindoor on May 7, in which Indian forces targeted nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives. On the intervening night of May 8 and 9, Pakistan retaliated with a massive drone offensive, violating Indian airspace and attempting to hit military installations. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh confirmed that the Indian armed forces effectively neutralised the incoming threats. Amid this ongoing conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held consultations with top defence veterans, including former chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, to review the national security scenario and discuss future responses. First Published: May 09, 2025, 23:20 IST
Russia Today
23-04-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
World militaries learning from Russia
All the world's armies are closely examining Russia's tactics and technology used in the Ukraine conflict, President Vladimir Putin has said. Moscow should build on its successes in the military-industrial sphere, he stressed. Speaking at a meeting of the country's Military-Industrial Commission on Wednesday, Putin said Russia's battlefield experience is attracting unprecedented global attention. 'Our special military operation – when it comes both to tactics and weapon development – is being studied by all armies of the world, top arms manufacturers, and tech firms.' Russia 'must stay one step ahead,' he said. Putin also expressed his gratitude to the employees of the enterprises that serve as the backbone of Russia's military efforts, noting that the industry faces even more ambitious challenges this year than in 2024. While Russian forces had received over 1.5 million drones and more than 4,000 armored vehicles in 2024, the army is still suffering from a shortfall in FPV (first-person view) drones, which have become one of the key assets in the Ukraine conflict, the president noted. He also stressed that Russia should prioritize the development of unmanned boats and robots, as well as combat lasers, noting that the country has made some progress in these areas. A 2024 US Army War College report outlined several key takeaways from the Ukraine conflict, including the importance of electronic warfare and the challenges posed by a transparent battlefield due to ubiquitous surveillance. According to media reports, China is also taking note, with a focus on deploying swarms of low-cost drones and creating AI-driven coordination systems. Meanwhile, as the fighting in Ukraine rages on, Russia has captured large quantities of Western-supplied equipment – including tanks, armored vehicles, portable missile systems, and NATO-standard communications systems – which it is analyzing to extract technological insights and improve its own battlefield capabilities.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK to boost explosives production, reduce reliance on US arms, Times reports
The United Kingdom will significantly ramp up domestic production of military-grade explosives to reduce its reliance on U.S. and French imports, the Times reported on April 20. The effort is part of a wider trend among European and other allies to become less dependent on U.S.-sourced weaponry after President Donald Trump took office. Shipping containers will be deployed across the country to produce RDX explosives, which are a key ingredient in NATO-standard 155 mm artillery shells. These rounds are used in British Army systems like the AS-90 and the Archer self-propelled howitzers and have been supplied to Ukrainian forces. BAE Systems, the U.K.'s largest defense contractor, also plans to construct three new production sites to increase resilience against potential attacks, according to the Times. BAE's new facility in Glascoed, South Wales, set to open this summer, will deliver a 16-fold increase in 155 mm shell production compared to pre-Russia-Ukraine war levels. The Times, which was briefed on current production volumes, reported that officials have withheld the exact number for national security reasons. U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey called the expansion "an important step in learning the lessons from Ukraine, boosting our industrial resilience and making defense an engine for growth.' BAE, which currently imports RDX from the U.S. and France, aims to make its munitions "Itar-free" — meaning exempt from the U.S.'s International Traffic in Arms Regulations (Itar), which can restrict the sale and export of weapons containing U.S. components. The company's innovative approach will use smaller, dispersed facilities capable of producing 100 metric tons of explosives annually. The concern over U.S. reliability is not limited to the UK. In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a new defense plan on April 19, pledging around $22.4 billion in military spending in response to Trump's expansionist rhetoric. "In this crisis, we have to prepare for America's threats to our very sovereignty," Carney said, as reported by Politico on April 19. "They want our land, our resources, they want our water, they want our country." Carney's plan emphasizes Arctic security, increased spending on military infrastructure, and investments in artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Trump has called into question the U.S.'s commitment to NATO's collective defense principle, signaled reduced interest in Europe's security, and even publicly floated plans to annex Greenland from Denmark and make Canada the 51st U.S. state. Read also: Europe's overall Ukraine aid outpaces US by $26 billion, report says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
