Latest news with #RUSSIAN
LeMonde
4 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Le Monde - retour à la une How the Russian and Ukrainian front lines are shifting
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the front lines of the war have never stopped shifting. These transformations have first and foremost been geographical, with advances, retreats and the stabilization of specific areas. They have also been morphological and technological. The front has hardened significantly: individual positions have gradually become entrenched, resulting in a complex network of trenches, bunkers, anti-tank ditches and minefields. However, this kind of positional warfare is not a return to the past: It is even undergoing a technological revolution. Drones – whether used for reconnaissance, bombing or as kamikaze units – have become omnipresent, transforming the tactics, tempo and organization of the battlefield. World War in Ukraine By Victoria Denys, Emmanuel Grynszpan, Flavie Holzinger, Xemartin Laborde, Riccardo Pravettoni and Victor Simonnet This illustration is not intended to faithfully recreate the full complexity of the Ukrainian front line, which varies between locations and is constantly changing. Instead, it provides a general overview, helping readers to understand the diversity of equipment, situations and operating methods used on the front. THE RUSSIAN SIDE The reign of drones and the 'kill zone' The presence of drones on the Ukrainian battlefield has continued to intensify and become more complex. Drones are the key weapon in this war, and they have redefined how forces defend, attack, monitor and target their enemies. On both sides of the front, 90% of casualties have been caused by drone strikes. New types of drones have appeared, with specialized uses: hunting other drones, carrying out ultra-precise strikes against enemy artillery (artillery being the most difficult piece of equipment for the Russian defense industry to produce), etc. The two main uses of attack drones are to rush directly at their target (i.e. FPV drones) or to bomb them using onboard munitions. Artificial intelligence already enables them to conduct autonomous "swarm" attacks and helps identify targets. The range of attack drones has continually increased, and now reaches several dozen kilometers. "Mother drones," which carry multiple smaller drones, have begun to appear, and they can double or triple their operational range. This has expanded the "kill zone," the stretch of territory in which any movement is immediately spotted and struck, on both sides of the front, making assaults, defense and logistics increasingly difficult for dozens of kilometers. Leaving or reaching a position, resupplying, or even evacuating the wounded has become extremely dangerous. Military experts have predicted that the "kill zone" will continue to expand, eventually reaching 100 kilometers in width. The 'kill zone' New arsenal: Widespread robotization Ukrainian forces, on the defensive, have been subjected to barrages of FPV drones. Russia's widespread use of fiber optic cable drones has rendered radio jamming devices ineffective, as they are designed to neutralize radio-controlled drones. To protect themselves from these cable-equipped drones, which transmit high quality images, they have had to set up netting, and, as a last resort, use shotguns to shoot down the loitering munitions. As a result, fortifications, artillery and trenches have been systematically covered with camouflage netting. To reduce losses incurred during troop movements, Ukrainian forces have very rapidly developed ground drones to address their logistical challenges. These drones can resupply positions and evacuate the wounded. They can also be used offensively, to lay mines or even to carry out kamikaze strikes against enemy positions. THE UKRAINIAN SIDE A Russian countermeasure: using off-road motorcycles to attack through the 'kill zone' Nicknamed the 21st century "dragoons," in reference to historical military units that traveled on horseback but fought on foot, Russian infantry have, since the autumn of 2024, refined a new assault tactic: rapidly advancing on Ukrainian positions using off-road motorcycles. This has come as a countermeasure to the widespread use of drones by Ukrainian defenders. Over the past two years, drones have destroyed much of Russia's fleet of armored vehicles, which were previously their army's preferred means of transporting infantry for assaults. Drones have made approaching defensive positions extremely dangerous: No matter if the maneuver is mechanized or not, and regardless of how thick a vehicle's armor is, they threaten any kind of movement across the battlefield. Russian forces have found that the speed and maneuverability of off-road motorcycles make them harder to hit than slow, large targets, such as armored vehicles. They also give Ukrainian defenders less time to react to assaults once they are detected. The typical structure of a motorcycle assault group consists of six to eight motorcycles, with one or two soldiers per vehicle. Once they are within firing range of the targeted Ukrainian position, the riders dismount from their bikes to begin the actual attack, often striking from two or three flanks at once. Sources: ISW; Reuters; Le Monde Texts and research: Emmanuel Grynszpan and Flavie Holzinger Illustration: Victoria Denys Cartography: Xemartin Laborde Web development: Victor Simonnet Coordination: Riccardo Pravettoni English version: Zorro Maplestone
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
One dead, six injured in Russian drone attack on Ukraine's Odesa
RUSSIAN forces staged a mass drone attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa early on Saturday, setting ablaze at least one multi-storey apartment building and killing one resident, authorities said. In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cities, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to sharpen his tone against Russia and to threaten harsher sanctions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the attack on Odesa injured six people, including a child. Russia launched over 30 missiles and 300 drones during its overnight assault that affected 10 regions of the country, he added on Telegram, and reiterated the importance of air defence provision. Ukraine has been asking for additional support from allies to deliver aid and invest in domestic production to repel Russia's attacks. Five missiles and 30 drones hit 12 locations, and seven locations were hit by downed aerial objects, Ukraine's air force said in a statement on Telegram. Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched against its smaller neighbour more than three years ago. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. In the northeastern Sumy region, the latest drone attack damaged critical infrastructure, leaving several thousand families without electricity, Zelenskiy said. Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov earlier said that at least 20 drones had converged on the city, a frequent Russian target, and he said at least one multi-storey apartment building was on fire. Pictures posted online showed a fire engulfing floors near the top of one building and emergency crews moving extended ladders into place. Smoke billowed from windows.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Putin's cyber spooks who hacked Skripal's family in series of attacks are unmasked by British intel chiefs
RUSSIAN spies who led a series of attacks on Britain have been exposed by UK intelligence chiefs. Whitehall has imposed sanctions on Vladimir Putin's spooks responsible for years of hacking and other actions in the UK. Advertisement 3 Yulia Skripal and her father Sergei were poisoned by Russian spies in 2018. Yulia was also hacked by Putin's spooks before the attack Credit: East2west News The measures target three Others hit with sanctions are believed to be behind bombings and arson attacks in Britain and Europe in retaliation for support for Ukraine. They face a range of restrictions such as having financial assets frozen. Advertisement Read More on UK News Foreign Secretary "The Kremlin should be in no doubt; we see what they are trying to do in the shadows and won't tolerate it.' Spy chiefs are also probing if Russian agents were behind an incendiary device that ignited at a DHL hub in Birmingham last year. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Similar incidents have been reported across Europe. 3 Ivan Yermakov is said to have targeted Sergei Skripal's daughter Yulia five years before Russia poisoned her and her dad Credit: Reuters 3 Aleksey Lukashev is also said to have targeted Yulia before she was poisoned with nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury in 2018 Credit: FBI Nato can destroy Russian enclave 'faster than ever', US general warns…as Putin's henchmen say attack would 'unleash WW3'
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Putin's cyber spooks who hacked Skripal's family in series of attacks are unmasked by British intel chiefs
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSIAN spies who led a series of attacks on Britain have been exposed by UK intelligence chiefs. Whitehall has imposed sanctions on Vladimir Putin's spooks responsible for years of hacking and other actions in the UK. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Yulia Skripal and her father Sergei were poisoned by Russian spies in 2018. Yulia was also hacked by Putin's spooks before the attack Credit: East2west News The measures target three GRU military intelligence units and 18 spooks — two of whom were accused of hacking the phone of defector Sergei Skripal's daughter. Ivan Yermakov and Aleksey Lukashev — both wanted by the FBI — are said to have targeted Yulia five years before Russia poisoned her and her dad with nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury in 2018. Others hit with sanctions are believed to be behind bombings and arson attacks in Britain and Europe in retaliation for support for Ukraine. They face a range of restrictions such as having financial assets frozen. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 'GRU spies are running a campaign to destabilise Europe, undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and threaten the safety of British citizens. "The Kremlin should be in no doubt; we see what they are trying to do in the shadows and won't tolerate it.' Three men were this month convicted of torching an East London warehouse involved in shipping aid to Ukraine, on the orders of Russia's Wagner Group mercenaries. Spy chiefs are also probing if Russian agents were behind an incendiary device that ignited at a DHL hub in Birmingham last year. Similar incidents have been reported across Europe. 3 Ivan Yermakov is said to have targeted Sergei Skripal's daughter Yulia five years before Russia poisoned her and her dad Credit: Reuters 3 Aleksey Lukashev is also said to have targeted Yulia before she was poisoned with nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury in 2018 Credit: FBI
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Mystery of missing Russian woman, child, and a backdoor embassy entry in Delhi
A child custody battle has taken a dramatic turn with a Russian woman and her four-and-a-half-year-old son reported missing since July 7. The husband of the woman, an Indian citizen, told the Supreme Court that he last saw her on July 4, as she was entering the Russian Embassy through a backdoor. She is alleged to be in a relationship with a diplomat. The court has now directed the embassy to cooperate, warning that if any diplomat was found to be involved, strict action would Supreme Court on July 17 directed the central government to issue a lookout notice for the Russian child's father told the Supreme Court that his wife was seen exiting the Russian Embassy in New Delhi through a backdoor on July 4. He alleged that she was in a relationship with a diplomat from the embassy, according to a report by news agency man further alleged that the police failed to protect the minor child, thereby violating the court's order.A bench of the Supreme Court on July 17 directed the authorities to seize the woman's passport and instructed all international airports, ports, and immigration authorities in India to ensure that she and the child do not leave the country."Keeping in mind the comity, diplomatic relationship, and autonomy enjoyed on a reciprocal basis by different embassies, we are not issuing any directions in respect of the officers of the Russian Embassy in India," the bench noted, according to the PTI report."However, we do not hesitate to observe that if, on the basis of the police report, we find any diplomatic personnel attached or connected to the said embassy has prima facie committed an offence within the framework of the penal laws of this country, the law must take its own course," it ASKS RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN INDIA TO COOPERATEThe court urged the Russian Embassy's senior officials to assist Indian authorities, including the Delhi Police, in enforcing its also criticised the woman's counsel for providing vague responses about her whereabouts, raising doubts about their credibility. The order was directed to be shared with senior legal and police officials for compliance."The officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs, Union of India are also directed to communicate this order to all international airports and other ports within India, and the immigration authorities be intimated to ensure that neither the petitioner (woman) nor the minor child is permitted to leave the country," the order said, according to next hearing is scheduled for July part of a child custody agreement, the Supreme Court had initially ruled that the child should stay with the father for 20 hours a day and with the mother for the remaining four hours. This arrangement was to continue for two the court modified its order, allowing the mother custody for three days a week, with the father having custody for the remaining four mother, a Russian citizen who has been living in India since 2019 on an X-1 visa, has had her visa extended periodically by the Supreme Court during the ongoing May 22, the court also instructed the Delhi Police to maintain discreet but effective surveillance of the residences of both despite the court's orders that the police failed to keep tabs on the woman, who has mysteriously disappeared now with the child amid a custody battle.- EndsMust Watch
