Latest news with #Soviet-made
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First Post
20-05-2025
- General
- First Post
How India's battle-ready T-72 tanks repelled Pakistan's attacks during Operation Sindoor
India deployed its T-72 Main Battle Tanks (MBT) during Operation Sindoor. The T-72 a Soviet-made battle tank designed by Uralvagonzavod. Manufactured by six countries including India, it is used by the armed forces of around three dozen nations including Russia, India, Iraq, Finland and Germany read more The T-72 tank is used by armies of over three dozen nations including Russia, India, Iraq, Yugoslavia and Finland. Reuters India used a number of arms and equipment to inflict damage on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. India conducted a number of strikes on terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. Now, it turns out, that India deployed its T-72 Main Battle Tanks (MBT) during the operation. But what do we know about the tanks? How were they used? Let's take a closer look What do we know about T-72 tanks? As per Financial Express, the T-72 (MBT) is a Soviet-made battle tank. Designed by Soviet firm Uralvagonzavod, it was first introduced in 1971. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As per it has its origins in the Russian main battle tank T-72A. The T-72 MBT was inducted by the Russian armed forces in 1984. As per The Tank the T-72 is one of the most widely used battle tanks across the world. Manufactured by six countries, it is used by the armed forces of around three dozen nations. This includes Russia, Yugoslavia, India, Iraq, Finland and Germany. As per the T-72 has one 125mm gun, one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and one 12.7mm heavy machine gun. Weighing 44,500 kilos, it has a top speed of 60 kmph. It has an armour of 200 mm – which offers those inside greater protection. The tank has a range of around 500 kilometres. The modernized T-72 tank with additional armour. Image courtesy: Vitaly V. Kuzmin. Wikimedia Commons It is 9.53 metres long, 6.86 metres wide and 3.46 metres tall. It comes with fire control system, laser range-finder and NBC protection system. It can carry a three-man crew. It carries 44 rounds of 125 mm ammunition – of which 22 rounds are carried on an automatic loading carousel, as per Economic Times. As per the T-72 has been deployed in every major battle of the past two decades. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The T-72 is the mainstay of the Indian Army's tank fleet. In India, the T-72 is manufactured at Heavy Vehicles Factory in Chennai's Avadi. The Indian Army currently has around 2,500 such tanks fitted with 780 HP engines. As per Financial Express, the latest version of the T-72 features a Global Positioning System (GPS), Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA), and an Integrated Fire Detection and Suppression System (IFDSS). The tank is known for its ability to cross rivers, as per the newspaper. How were they used during Operation Sindoor? An army officer told NDTV that the tanks came all the way up to the Line of Control and took out specific targets . They were used to destroy any positions by which terrorists could enter India. 'We also hit enemy posts which were facilitating infiltration. We know which posts are used as bases for infiltration by the enemy. An informed call was taken – and the targets were hit,' the colonel, speaking on condition of anonymity, told NDTV. Though India and Pakistan have called a ceasefire, New Delhi has warned that any further terror attacks will be considered an 'act of war.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Ministry of Defence in 2025 signed a $248 million deal to buy 1,000 HP engines from Rosoboronexport. The new acquisition of 1,000 HP engines will replace engines of the existing fleet to 'enhance the battlefield mobility and offensive capability of the Indian Army', the ministry said in a statement. India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, bottom right, addresses a press conference after India struck multiple sites inside Pakistani-occupied Kashmir with missiles under Operation Sindoor, in New Delhi, India, on May 7, 2025. AP File The deal also included a Transfer of Technology (ToT) from Rosoboronexport to India's state-run Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (Heavy Vehicle Factory) under the Make in India initiative. The Indian defence ministry in 2023 had announced it would make nearly 600 indigenous tanks to replace its aging fleet of T-72s. India is the world's largest arms importer and Russia has been its top defence supplier for decades, although Moscow's ability to provide systems was damaged by its war in Ukraine, which has made New Delhi look more westward for suppliers. With inputs from agencies
Economic Times
10-05-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
Can Kosmos 482 survive the fall to Earth and the legacy of Soviet engineering
TOI-Online A titanium-clad descent module from Kosmos 482, built to survive Venus' harsh atmosphere, continues orbiting Earth after over 50 years—its Soviet-era engineering defying time as scientists monitor its rare reentry trajectory Image credits: X/@nexta_tv Kosmos 482, launched in 1972 as part of the now-defunct Soviet Union's ambitious space exploration program, is a spacecraft that has stirred considerable interest due to its imminent reentry into Earth's atmosphere. This spacecraft, designed for a mission to explore Venus, carries with it a rich history of Soviet engineering, blending durability with the high-stakes nature of space its reentry window set between May 9 and May 13, 2025, the question arises: how likely is it that Kosmos 482 will crash on Earth, and what are the factors that could determine whether this happens or not? Kosmos 482 is part of the Soviet Union's Venera program, which was dedicated to planetary exploration, particularly to Venus. This spacecraft is a testament to Soviet-made technology, particularly when considering the durability and design precision involved in its descent module, weighing around 495 kilograms and encased in a titanium shell, was designed to withstand Venus's extreme atmospheric conditions. This robust design suggests that, even after over 50 years in space, the spacecraft may have a higher chance of surviving reentry and potentially landing legacy of Soviet engineering, especially in the realm of spacecraft, is marked by a relentless pursuit of functionality and reliability. Soviet-made spacecraft like Kosmos 482 were designed with longevity in over-engineering has contributed to the spacecraft's ability to endure for decades, ensuring that Kosmos 482 remains a contender in the space race even now, despite its age. The careful attention to materials and structural integrity may help the spacecraft survive reentry. As of May 2025, Kosmos 482's reentry is expected to occur within a window between May 9 and May 13. The spacecraft's elliptical orbit, influenced by solar and terrestrial weather conditions, has made its descent path unpredictable. Given the spacecraft's age and the unpredictability of its trajectory, scientists have identified several potential impact zones: parts of the western hemisphere, including regions such as the Gulf of Oman, northeast Africa, and despite the potential risks, the probability of Kosmos 482 striking a populated area is extremely low. With Earth's surface covered mostly by oceans and uninhabited areas, experts believe that the chances of a direct hit on a specific person or populated region are minimal. In fact, some estimates put the odds of a spacecraft striking a person at 1 in several thousand to 1 in a trillion. The spacecraft's trajectory and controlled reentry strategies further reduce the likelihood of a crash on land. Beyond the question of reentry, Kosmos 482 continues to contribute valuable insights to the scientific community. Its decades-long orbital path has played a crucial role in improving models of atmospheric drag and space weather effects. This data has proven invaluable in refining satellite collision-avoidance systems and better understanding the behavior of space debris in low-Earth orbit. Kosmos 482's descent represents an important opportunity to examine how long-lived spacecraft continue to behave during reentry and how Earth's atmosphere interacts with objects in orbit. The space agencies responsible for monitoring the reentry of Kosmos 482—such as the Russian space agency Roscosmos and global space tracking organizations—have provided regular updates on the spacecraft's agencies consistently reaffirm that, while the risk of the spacecraft impacting a populated area is low, careful monitoring remains essential. Efforts to track space debris and monitor reentering objects have been significantly improved in recent years, allowing experts to predict reentry windows and identify potential impact 482 is a remarkable piece of Soviet engineering, and its longevity in space is a testament to the durability of Soviet-made spacecraft. While the possibility of a crash exists, the scientific community remains confident that the risk to populated areas is extremely spacecraft's reentry is being carefully monitored, and the data gathered from this event will continue to contribute to the field of space exploration and debris management. Despite its age, Kosmos 482 stands as a symbol of Soviet engineering prowess, and its controlled reentry presents a unique opportunity for scientific study.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Can Kosmos 482 survive the fall to Earth and the legacy of Soviet engineering
Kosmos 482 , launched in 1972 as part of the now-defunct Soviet Union's ambitious space exploration program, is a spacecraft that has stirred considerable interest due to its imminent reentry into Earth's atmosphere. This spacecraft, designed for a mission to explore Venus, carries with it a rich history of Soviet engineering, blending durability with the high-stakes nature of space exploration. #Operation Sindoor India-Pakistan Clash Live Updates| Missiles, shelling, and attacks — here's all that's happening Pakistani Air Force jet shot down in Pathankot by Indian Air Defence: Sources India on high alert: What's shut, who's on leave, and state-wise emergency measures With its reentry window set between May 9 and May 13, 2025, the question arises: how likely is it that Kosmos 482 will crash on Earth, and what are the factors that could determine whether this happens or not? The Soviet legacy and engineering durability Kosmos 482 is part of the Soviet Union's Venera program , which was dedicated to planetary exploration, particularly to Venus. This spacecraft is a testament to Soviet-made technology, particularly when considering the durability and design precision involved in its construction. Its descent module, weighing around 495 kilograms and encased in a titanium shell, was designed to withstand Venus's extreme atmospheric conditions. This robust design suggests that, even after over 50 years in space, the spacecraft may have a higher chance of surviving reentry and potentially landing intact. The durability of Soviet-made spacecraft The legacy of Soviet engineering, especially in the realm of spacecraft, is marked by a relentless pursuit of functionality and reliability. Soviet-made spacecraft like Kosmos 482 were designed with longevity in mind. This over-engineering has contributed to the spacecraft's ability to endure for decades, ensuring that Kosmos 482 remains a contender in the space race even now, despite its age. The careful attention to materials and structural integrity may help the spacecraft survive reentry. Live Events Kosmos 482: reentry and survival predictions As of May 2025, Kosmos 482's reentry is expected to occur within a window between May 9 and May 13. The spacecraft's elliptical orbit, influenced by solar and terrestrial weather conditions, has made its descent path unpredictable. Given the spacecraft's age and the unpredictability of its trajectory, scientists have identified several potential impact zones: parts of the western hemisphere, including regions such as the Gulf of Oman, northeast Africa, and Borneo. Probability of a Crash However, despite the potential risks, the probability of Kosmos 482 striking a populated area is extremely low. With Earth's surface covered mostly by oceans and uninhabited areas, experts believe that the chances of a direct hit on a specific person or populated region are minimal. In fact, some estimates put the odds of a spacecraft striking a person at 1 in several thousand to 1 in a trillion. The spacecraft's trajectory and controlled reentry strategies further reduce the likelihood of a crash on land. The scientific significance of Kosmos 482 Beyond the question of reentry, Kosmos 482 continues to contribute valuable insights to the scientific community. Its decades-long orbital path has played a crucial role in improving models of atmospheric drag and space weather effects. This data has proven invaluable in refining satellite collision-avoidance systems and better understanding the behavior of space debris in low-Earth orbit. Kosmos 482's descent represents an important opportunity to examine how long-lived spacecraft continue to behave during reentry and how Earth's atmosphere interacts with objects in orbit. Official stance on reentry and crash probability The space agencies responsible for monitoring the reentry of Kosmos 482—such as the Russian space agency Roscosmos and global space tracking organizations—have provided regular updates on the spacecraft's trajectory. These agencies consistently reaffirm that, while the risk of the spacecraft impacting a populated area is low, careful monitoring remains essential. Efforts to track space debris and monitor reentering objects have been significantly improved in recent years, allowing experts to predict reentry windows and identify potential impact zones. Conclusion Kosmos 482 is a remarkable piece of Soviet engineering, and its longevity in space is a testament to the durability of Soviet-made spacecraft. While the possibility of a crash exists, the scientific community remains confident that the risk to populated areas is extremely low. The spacecraft's reentry is being carefully monitored, and the data gathered from this event will continue to contribute to the field of space exploration and debris management. Despite its age, Kosmos 482 stands as a symbol of Soviet engineering prowess, and its controlled reentry presents a unique opportunity for scientific study.
Shafaq News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Spoiled by the coil: Iraq's mines battles take their toll
Shafaq News/ In a remote village near the Iranian border in Maysan province, 14-year-old Qusay Salman and his older brother, Hussein, were simply on an errand to fetch water. But with one step, Qusay's life was tragically cut short when he triggered a hidden landmine. The explosion took him instantly, while Hussein was left with a shattered leg. Their story is just one of many in Iraq, where an estimated 25 million landmines and unexploded remnants of war (ERWs) still lie buried beneath the earth, silently claiming lives. Across the country, these deadly relics from past conflicts continue to inflict a toll on the innocent, making the land a silent battleground long after the guns have fallen silent. A Deadly Map Iraq is home to one of the world's most deadly and expansive minefields. Over 2,100 square kilometers of land remain tainted by landmines, cluster munitions, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), posing an ongoing threat to civilians and hindering the country's efforts to recover and rebuild. The spread of these deadly remnants traces the scars of Iraq's turbulent past, with each region carrying the marks of a different conflict. In the south, the consequences of the Iran–Iraq War still haunt the landscape. During the 1980s, the Iraqi military planted thousands of mines, primarily Soviet-made TM-46 and PMN models, across Basra, Maysan, and Wasit in an attempt to block Iranian forces. Decades later, much of this land remains unsafe. In Basra alone, over 1,200 square kilometers are still contaminated, with some areas, like the Shatt al-Arab district, remaining un-surveyed since the 1990s. This leaves local communities at constant risk, their daily lives shaped by the threat of hidden explosives beneath their feet. As we move inland, the story shifts to the aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion and the insurgency that followed. The use of IEDs by insurgent groups became widespread across al-Anbar, Saladin, and Baghdad, creating unmarked minefields throughout urban and rural areas. In Fallujah, where families are slowly returning after years of displacement, many discover their homes rigged with explosives buried in walls, floors, and furniture. The impact is staggering; according to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), nearly 16% of al-Anbar's farmland remains off-limits due to contamination, crippling both agriculture and reconstruction efforts. The North tells a different, even more complex story. Between 2014 and 2017, as ISIS took control of Nineveh and Sinjar, the group left behind a trail of destruction, rigging homes, roads, and fields with mines and booby traps. In Mosul, the remnants are so dense that clearance teams have reported up to 8,000 explosive hazards per square kilometer, one of the highest concentrations in the world. In the Kurdistan Region, cross-border airstrikes from Turkiye and Iran regularly scatter unexploded ordnance (UXOs) in areas like Al-Amediya, Sidakan, and Qandil, complicating already the difficult clearance efforts and adding to the peril that local communities face. Rebar Mahmoud, head of operations at the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency (IKMAA), describes the task of clearing these explosive remnants as a multi-layered challenge. 'We're dealing with at least four layers of contamination,' he explains. 'It's like peeling back time; from Saddam's wars, to the American occupation, ISIS, and now the airstrikes. Each era has left its own signature of destruction.' A Generation at Risk Since 2004, Iraq's Ministry of Health has documented at least 14,835 civilian casualties from explosive remnants, with over 5,000 fatalities. Yet, experts from organizations like the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) and the Iraqi Civil Society Initiative (ICSI) caution that these numbers may only scratch the surface. They estimate that the true toll could be closer to 20,000, a reflection of the significant underreporting in remote and tribal areas, where access remains limited. The impact of this crisis is striking, especially when examining recent data. In just the first quarter of 2024, 16 children were harmed by unexploded ordnance. Tragically, this trend mirrors the previous year, which saw 38 child fatalities and 47 injuries from the same cause. Shockingly, minors under the age of 18 account for 41% of all casualties. These young victims endure injuries ranging from amputations and severe burns to deep lacerations and other life-altering wounds. Yet the true cost goes far beyond the physical. For many, the psychological trauma runs deeper, leaving invisible scars that linger long after the blast. Rami, a 12-year-old survivor from Mosul, spoke of the ongoing terror that shadows his every step, "I can't sleep without hearing the explosion in my head. I wake up in the middle of the night, scared that I'll step on another mine." For Rami, the memories of fear and pain are ever-present, a reminder that even after the immediate threat is gone, the emotional scars remain. The psychological toll is compounded by Iraq's severe shortage of mental health services. The country's infrastructure for psychological care remains underdeveloped, leaving many survivors to cope with their trauma in isolation. "We try to help them, but there aren't enough resources," explained Dr. Hanan al-Majed, a mental health specialist in Mosul. "The children are the most affected, and we don't have enough therapists to handle the demand." With so few mental health professionals available, countless survivors never receive the support they so desperately need, leaving their wounds, both physical and emotional, untreated Fragile Progress More than two decades after the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraq's efforts to clear these deadly remnants are in jeopardy. Since 2003, Iraq has partnered with international demining organizations like the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Danish Demining Group, and Norwegian People's Aid. Together, they've cleared over 3,200 square kilometers of land and destroyed more than 2.3 million explosive devices. These accomplishments have helped communities rebuild, roads reopen, and farmland spring back to life. However, the tide has begun to turn. UNMAS Iraq's 2024 Mid-Year Review shows that clearance operations have dropped by 38% since 2020. This decline is driven by deepening political tensions, shrinking international funding, and, more critically, a breakdown in coordination that threatens to unravel years of progress. In late 2023, a crucial cooperation agreement between the Iraqi government and the United Nations quietly expired following a breakdown in budget talks. This deadlock has brought joint operations to a halt. Iraqi officials blame UNMAS for a lack of transparency in awarding contracts to local demining firms, while UN agencies point to Baghdad's bureaucratic delays and ongoing funding issues. 'This wasn't just a misunderstanding, it was a breakdown of trust,' confirmed a UN source familiar with the talks. Without a shared framework, we've had to suspend joint clearance missions in Nineveh, Diyala, and Maysan indefinitely', he added. The consequences of this rift have been swift and far-reaching. Eleven major projects, including the Mosul Old City Urban Recovery Corridor, have been suspended. More than 420 local deminers have lost their jobs, and nearly 850,000 square meters of high-risk land set for clearance in 2025 now face indefinite delays. While Iraq's own demining agencies continue their work, they are stretched thin. The National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) and the Kurdistan Mine Action Agency (IKMAA) are struggling with limited resources. For example, IKMAA has only 18 teams to cover five provinces—an overwhelming task given the scale of contamination. 'The gap left by UNMAS is a chasm,' said Ola Almohor, former Country Director of UNMAS Iraq. 'Without renewed collaboration, Iraq will not meet its Ottawa Treaty target, not in 2030, not in 2040.' Iraq signed the Ottawa Treaty in 1997, committing to eliminate anti-personnel mines and clear all contaminated land by 2025. That deadline was quietly extended to 2030, but even that target now feels out of reach. Efforts to restore cooperation are underway. A new government committee in Baghdad is reviewing Iraq's strategy with the UN, hoping to resolve the issues and restart stalled projects. But with time running out, each passing day adds to the burden, and families continue to live in fear. Their Scars Tell a Story While national and international bodies face mounting challenges, on the ground, Iraqis are finding their own ways to fight back against the hidden threat beneath their soil. Rather than remain passive victims, communities across the country are taking action, organizing, and using innovative solutions to confront the deadly legacy of landmines. In al-Amara, the capital of Maysan province, Wadi for Peace, a local NGO, is at the forefront of this movement. The organization trains villagers and shepherds to identify explosives, safely report dangers, and take swift action when needed. In 2023 alone, their mobile reporting system recorded over 1,400 alerts, leading to 600 confirmed landmine clearances by the Iraqi Demining and Mine Action Center (DMA). 'We can't wait for the government or the UN,' said Ali Khazal, director of Wadi for Peace. 'People have to be their own first responders.' This call for self-reliance is echoed in Kirkuk, where a group of landmine survivors has turned their suffering into a force for awareness and change. In 2022, they founded Tigers Without Borders, Iraq's first football team made up entirely of landmine victims. The team travels to schools and camps to spread the word about the dangers of unexploded ordnance. Captain Hayder Salih, who lost his legs to a landmine while serving as a Peshmerga fighter, summed up their mission with these words, stating, 'We kick with prosthetics, but we carry a message. We are more than our wounds; we are the voice of those still waiting for help.'
The Guardian
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Ready, fire, boom' – on the frontline with a Ukrainian artillery unit
From a line of trees the Ukrainian gun team prepares to fire. An artilleryman, Yurii, loads a 152mm shell into an old Soviet-made howitzer. 'We are ready!' Yurii says. He moves away from the barrel. 'Fire!' the unit's commander replies. There is an almighty boom. White smoke fills the dugout, which is hidden beneath camouflage nets and cut pine branches. From the undergrowth, a chiffchaff resumes its spring warbling. Nearby, in the north-east of Ukraine, Russian troops were trying to advance. In February 2022 they rolled in to the town of Dvorichna at the beginning of Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion. Six months later Ukraine's armed forces pushed them out as part of a successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region. In January, the Russians came back and occupied Dvorichna for a second time. The battle is taking place on either side of the picturesque Oskil River. Before the war, it was a place for recreation. Visitors would grill kebabs on its sandy beaches or go kayaking past a ridge of low chalk hills and a small national park. Now it is a zone of war, waged by drones, artillery and bombs. The Russians are trying to expand a slender bridgehead on the river's right back, near Dvorichna. Their goal is to seize the R79 highway leading to the railway hub of Kupiansk, immediately to the south – and, after that, to encircle Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city. 'Our task is to stop them from crossing the river. We do this by firing at their logistics in the rear,' explained Serhii, an artillery captain with the 1st or 'Burevii' brigade of Ukraine's national guard. Over the past two months, the Russians had scaled back their attempt to bring reinforcements across the Oskil, Serhii said, because of heavy losses. As soon as Russian engineering teams build pontoon bridges his battery destroys them, he added. Video shows how three Russian armoured personnel carriers were hit. They sank. Others got stuck on the bank and were finished off by kamikaze drones. The corpses of Russians soldiers lay around. 'Sometimes they collect their dead. Sometimes not. Dogs eat their remains,' Yurii – the artilleryman – said matter-of-factly. He added: 'A lot of Russians have been killed. We like this.' Fighting takes place across a landscape of fields and broken copses, shredded by repeated shelling. Green foliage and blossom makes it easier for both sides to conceal their technical equipment. Tactics have changed, Serhii said. The Russians had abandoned big military columns and were sending groups of infantry to the frontline on innovative forms of transport. These included armoured fighting vehicles – 'three or four at a time' – motorcycles, quad bikes, golf buggies and civilian cars. 'Often they take a position. We counterattack and get it back. It's back and forth. There's no significant advance,' he said. Despite US attempts to negotiate an end to hostilities, the Kremlin is still trying to grab more territory. On Monday, Putin announced a ceasefire to coincide with Victory Day and a parade in Red Square celebrating the Soviet Union's defeat in the Second World War of Nazi Germany. Ukrainian commentators pointed out he had announced a similar truce over Easter only to massively violate it. Last autumn Russia made military gains. Recently its progress has slowed. The main thrust is in the industrial eastern Donetsk region. In one city, Pokrovsk, Ukraine's troops have stabilised the frontline. In another, Kostyantynivka, the Russians creep forward. Putin appears determined to seize the entire oblast, ignoring Donald Trump's plea: 'Vladimir, stop!' The US president's solution to the conflict includes giving Crimea and four eastern Ukrainian regions to Moscow. Ukrainian soldiers said this would create a disastrous geopolitical precedent. One observed: 'It would legitimise the redistribution of territory by force and open a Pandora's box around the world. Putin would go on to attack the Baltics, Finland or Moldova. It's our country and state. It's not up to Trump to decide where our borders lie.' Russia's latest assault has brought fresh misery to a population that had already experienced occupation. In 2022 Russian troops entered Dvorichna quickly, leaving it mostly intact. After intense recent fighting it has become a wasteland. According to survivors, Russian soldiers arrived just after new year. They opened fire on the handful of civilians who were still living in the ruined town and sheltering in basements. One of them, Yevhen, said his neighbour Volodymyr was badly injured. There was no medicine. He died 10 days later of his wounds. Yevhen said he and two neighbours carried Volodymyr's body up from a cellar but did not have time to dig a grave. They left him next to a woodshed. The trio waited until the soldiers disappeared and escaped, walking 4 miles to the Ukrainian-controlled village of Kutkivka. Andriy Besedin, the mayor of Kupiansk, said the district was under continual fire. This month there have been 1,500 attacks from shells, mortars and airstrikes, he said. Five people have been killed and 35 injured. On Saturday a surgeon was wounded when a Russian drone targeted his car. The same day a bomb dropped by a plane killed an 88-year-old man and damaged several houses. About 750 residents were still living on the left bank of the Oskil, right next to the frontline, Besedin said. The Russians are 1.5 miles away. 'We have told our people to leave. They refuse. They have no gas, water, communications, hospital, or communal services', he said. Besedin was optimistic Kupiansk could hang on, despite daily bombardment. 'We believe in our armed forces,' he declared. Other soldiers said they expected Moscow to launch a large summer offensive – based on a 'gut feeling', as one put it. This week, Russia's defence ministry said it had fully recaptured the Kursk region, where Ukraine's armed forces in August launched a mini-invasion. The Kremlin is expected to increase its attacks on the adjacent province and city of Sumy. A Russian missile recently hit Sumy's centre, killing 35 people. On Sunday Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the situation was difficult across the frontline. 'Fighting continues. The occupier continues its offensive attempts,' the president wrote on social media. Global pressure on Russia to bring the war to an end was 'not sufficient', he added. Moscow had snubbed a proposal by Washington for a 'full and comprehensive ceasefire', which Kyiv accepted in March, he pointed out. A drone operator with the first brigade, Alex, confirmed that the Russians were not letting up. 'As soon as they see a weakness they take what they can get,' he said. 'The dynamic we see now is that Russia's advance is rather slow. But it is perceptible. If we don't do something to counteract it they will inch forward. Our plan on a local level is to kill as many of them as possible until they have nobody to throw at us.' Alex called the US's peace efforts 'pretty disappointing'. 'It's easy to put pressure on a Ukraine that's on the back foot, rather than on Russia,' he remarked. Zelenskyy faced a predicament, he added. He could agree to Trump's Moscow-friendly deal, knowing that Putin would soon 'try again' with another attack on Ukraine. Or Zelenskyy could refuse, and see himself blamed by the Americans and Russian propaganda. Nearby, other soldiers were customising drones in a workshop. They included surveillance models fitted with thermal cameras and mine-dropping 'bombers'. Both sides are using fibre-optic drones, which are immune to electronic warfare counter-measures. 'The war has changed. In 2014 there were no drones. In 2022 there were very few of them,' said one soldier Roman with the call-sign 'Cedar'. 'Now they are everywhere.' People in the town of Shevchenkove said they didn't want to live under Russian rule again. 'They were here for six months. We had to ask permission to fetch water,' Luda Yermolenko said, sitting with her neighbours on a bench next to her cottage under a cherry tree. 'Most civilians were OK, but they killed a mother and her son.' She added: 'We hope our army can hold this place.'
