Latest news with #Su-27
eNCA
5 days ago
- General
- eNCA
War-weary Ukrainians find solace by frontline lake
Raisa Ustimenko barely looked up as a fighter jet swooped overhead, roaring over the lakeshore in Sloviansk towards the agonisingly close war front in eastern Ukraine. The 67-year-old was more focused on rummaging through a pink plastic bag for the plums she brought for her summer picnic by the lake. "Take some of my plums... This one is the best -- the largest!" she told AFP as the noise from the fighter became deafening. Some beachgoers shrugged at the roar. Others shaded their eyes to watch the swerving Ukrainian Su-27 as it sped away towards the front just 20 kilometres away. The lakeside is busy on summer days with mostly elderly residents who stayed behind when half the population of Sloviansk fled the Russian advance. It is one of the pockets of relative normality even in areas near the front, where residents can seek some solace from the war and the heat. Russian troops are pushing toward Sloviansk, now within range of devastating glide bombs dropped from Russian warplanes, and drones that have left buildings across the city in ruins. In the face of uncertainty, Ustimenko said she needs to hold on to something positive. "It can be at the beach, it can be in a beautiful cup of coffee, it can be just a flower. You look at a flower and you feel happy," she said. "You forget about what's flying over the sky -- that's the most important thing. We won't be able to survive here otherwise." - 'The little moments' – Omar Salih Rasheed, programme coordinator at the International Committee of the Red Cross Mental Health Support Programme, said such scenes are common across different conflicts. "People always look for the ways to adapt, to cope with what is happening," Rasheed said. "It does not mean that everyone is fine." AFP | Genya SAVILOV Rasheed said the need for mental health support will grow after the fighting stops, and people take stock of what has happened to them. While the war continues, it is important "that communities can enjoy the little moments that they can." At the Sloviansk lakeside, Vyacheslav Shatalov, who works at a nautical-themed beach bar, said people might scatter if they hear explosions but still come back later in the day. "If they left in the morning, they'll be back by the evening to relax," said the 61-year-old, his skin weathered by a decade of summers at the resort. At his bar, decorated with a giant ship's wheel, Shatalov hands out beach mattresses as Coldplay blared from the radio. "Those who are really scared have left already, but the seasoned ones still come," he said. - 'Look and remember' - The beach features white wooden huts and a concrete shelter in case of attacks. But Mariana Rebets, 37, said she had never seen anyone using it. "If the alarm rings and we see smoke, we'll see what people do, and follow them," she said. "My husband said: if something flies over the lake, just dive," said Rebets, wearing a bright pink dress and huge sunglasses. Rebets regularly travels from relatively safer western Ukraine to spend a few days with her husband, a soldier stationed near the front. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, about half of the population of Sloviansk fled, leaving only 53,000 in the former industrial city. Many of those who stayed are older residents attached to their homes, while younger people moved to safer areas. AFP | Genya SAVILOV Ustimenko's family has moved away too. From the wilder side of the lake, she gazed at the water where her grandchildren once learned to swim. "Now they're not here. No one is here," she said. "We come here on our own, we look and remember, we rejoice."
Int'l Business Times
5 days ago
- General
- Int'l Business Times
War-weary Ukrainians Find Solace By Frontline Lake
Raisa Ustimenko barely looked up as a fighter jet swooped overhead, roaring over the lakeshore in Sloviansk towards the agonisingly close war front in eastern Ukraine. The 67-year-old was more focused on rummaging through a pink plastic bag for the plums she brought for her summer picnic by the lake. "Take some of my plums... This one is the best -- the largest!" she told AFP as the noise from the fighter became deafening. Some beachgoers shrugged at the roar. Others shaded their eyes to watch the swerving Ukrainian Su-27 as it sped away towards the front just 20 kilometers (13 miles) away. The lakeside is busy on summer days with mostly elderly residents who stayed behind when half the population of Sloviansk fled the Russian advance. It is one of the pockets of relative normality even in areas near the front, where residents can seek some solace from the war and the heat. Russian troops are pushing toward Sloviansk, now within range of devastating glide bombs dropped from Russian warplanes, and drones that have left buildings across the city in ruins. In the face of uncertainty, Ustimenko said she needs to hold on to something positive. "It can be at the beach, it can be in a beautiful cup of coffee, it can be just a flower. You look at a flower and you feel happy," she said. "You forget about what's flying over the sky -- that's the most important thing. We won't be able to survive here otherwise." Omar Salih Rasheed, programme coordinator at the International Committee of the Red Cross Mental Health Support Programme, said such scenes are common across different conflicts. "People always look for the ways to adapt, to cope with what is happening," Rasheed said. "It does not mean that everyone is fine." Rasheed said the need for mental health support will grow after the fighting stops, and people take stock of what has happened to them. While the war continues, it is important "that communities can enjoy the little moments that they can." At the Sloviansk lakeside, Vyacheslav Shatalov, who works at a nautical-themed beach bar, said people might scatter if they hear explosions but still come back later in the day. "If they left in the morning, they'll be back by the evening to relax," said the 61-year-old, his skin weathered by a decade of summers at the resort. At his bar, decorated with a giant ship's wheel, Shatalov hands out beach mattresses as Coldplay blared from the radio. "Those who are really scared have left already, but the seasoned ones still come," he said. The beach features white wooden huts and a concrete shelter in case of attacks. But Mariana Rebets, 37, said she had never seen anyone using it. "If the alarm rings and we see smoke, we'll see what people do, and follow them," she said. "My husband said: if something flies over the lake, just dive," said Rebets, wearing a bright pink dress and huge sunglasses. Rebets regularly travels from relatively safer western Ukraine to spend a few days with her husband, a soldier stationed near the front. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, about half of the population of Sloviansk fled, leaving only 53,000 in the former industrial city. Many of those who stayed are older residents attached to their homes, while younger people moved to safer areas. Ustimenko's family has moved away too. From the wilder side of the lake, she gazed at the water where her grandchildren once learned to swim. "Now they're not here. No one is here," she said. "We come here on our own, we look and remember, we rejoice." Russian troops are pushing toward Sloviansk, now within range of devastating glide bombs dropped from Russian warplanes AFP Russian forces have also stepped up drone attacks on other civilian hubs in the Donetsk region AFP
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Putin Teases WW3 Before Alaska Summit? NATO Nation Scrambles F-35 To Confront Russian Jets
Italy's stealth F-35s were scrambled over the Baltic Sea on August 13, marking the first-ever interception of Russian Su-24 and Su-27 jets near NATO airspace. Neither Russian aircraft had filed flight plans or transmitted active transponder signals, prompting NATO forces to monitor the incursion as a potential reconnaissance or probing mission. This follows a July 22 incident near Alaska where Russian Tu-95MS bombers, escorted by Su-35s and Su-30SM fighters, were monitored by U.S. F-35 and F-16 jets over a 15-hour mission, including aerial refuelling. These consecutive events highlight a growing pattern of Russian military activity near NATO territories. The Baltic and Arctic regions are becoming hotspots, just days before the high-stakes Alaska summit where Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are set to discuss the Ukraine conflict. Watch for more details.#NATO #F35 #Russia #BalticSea #Arctic #AlaskaSummit #Putin #Trump #MilitaryTensions #AirPolicing #donaldtrump #vladimirputin #usa
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Japan says Chinese jets made dangerously close approach
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Tokyo said Thursday it had expressed "serious concerns" to Beijing after Chinese fighter jets flew dangerously close to a Japanese military patrol plane in the Pacific last incident followed the sighting of two Chinese aircraft carriers sailing in the Pacific together for the first time, including in Japan's economic said this week that the aircraft carriers' activity -- described by China as "routine training" -- showed the expanding geographic scope of Beijing's military.A Japanese defence ministry spokesman told AFP on Thursday that Chinese fighter jets had flown "unusually close" to the Japanese patrol Saturday, a Chinese J-15 fighter jet from the Shandong aircraft carrier followed a Japanese P-3C patrol plane for 40 minutes, then on Sunday two J-15 jets did the same for 80 minutes, the spokesman said."During these long periods, the jets flew unusually close to the P-3C, and they flew within 45 metres" of the patrol plane at the same altitude on both days, he Sunday, the Chinese jets cut across airspace around 900 metres in front of the Japanese patrol plane -- a distance that a P-3C can reach within a few seconds at cruising speed, the spokesman added."Such abnormal approaches can lead to an accidental collision, so we have expressed serious concerns" to the Chinese side and asked them to prevent a repetition, a defence ministry statement said no Japanese military personnel had been injured.A second defence ministry spokesman told AFP the Japanese message was delivered through diplomatic channels and between officials from the neighbours' defence ministries.A similar incident was last reported over a decade ago in May and June 2014, when Chinese Su-27 fighter jets flew within 30 metres (100 feet) of Japan's military Kawai, director of the University of Tokyo's economic security and policy innovation program, told AFP earlier this week that the timing of the aircraft carrier movements could be linked to US-China economic tensions."Beijing calculated that the United States would be less willing or able to respond militarily at this precise moment, seeing it as an opportune time to demonstrate its expanding military capabilities," he said.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Flying within 45 metres': Japan finds Chinese fighter jets dangerously close to military aircraft; Tokyo raises 'serious concerns'
Photo of Chinese jet for representational purposes. Japan on Thursday conveyed 'serious concerns' after Chinese fighter aircraft approached dangerously close to a Japanese military surveillance aircraft in the Pacific during the previous weekend. This occurrence followed the observation of two Chinese aircraft carriers navigating together in the Pacific for the first time, including within Japan's economic waters. Japan indicated this week that the aircraft carriers' activities - which China described as "routine training" - demonstrated the widening geographical reach of China's military operations. A spokesperson from Japan's defence ministry informed AFP on Thursday that Chinese fighter aircraft had flown "unusually close" to the Japanese patrol aircraft. On Saturday, a Chinese J-15 fighter from the Shandong aircraft carrier tracked a Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft for 40 minutes, followed by two J-15 jets doing the same for 80 minutes on Sunday, according to the spokesperson. "Throughout these extended periods, the jets maintained an unusually close proximity to the P-3C, flying within 45 metres" of the patrol aircraft at identical altitude on both occasions, he stated. On Sunday, the Chinese jets traversed the airspace approximately 900 metres ahead of the Japanese patrol aircraft - a distance coverable by a P-3C within seconds at cruising speed, the spokesperson added. "These irregular approaches risk accidental collisions, hence we have expressed serious concerns" to China and requested prevention of similar incidents, stated a defence ministry release. The statement confirmed no Japanese military personnel sustained injuries. A second defence ministry spokesperson informed AFP that Japan's message was conveyed through diplomatic channels and between defence ministry officials of both countries. A comparable incident was previously reported over a decade ago in May and June 2014, when Chinese Su-27 fighter jets flew within 30 metres of Japan's military aircraft. Daisuke Kawai, who directs the University of Tokyo's economic security and policy innovation programme, told AFP earlier this week that the aircraft carrier movements' timing might correlate with US-China economic tensions. "Beijing calculated that the United States would be less willing or able to respond militarily at this precise moment, seeing it as an opportune time to demonstrate its expanding military capabilities," he said.
