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Estonia (neighbour to near Lithuania)
They Has Just Found Another Million Shells For Ukraine army. That’s half, 50% artillery ammunition Ukrainian gunners need for the rest of the year. Yahoo

The Ukrainian 43rd Artillery Brigade in action.43RD ARTILLERY BRIGADE PHOTO

7-weeks after Czech defense policy chief Jan Jires announced his govt had identified 800,000—later, a million—artillery shells that Ukraine’s allies could buy for Ukraine, Estonian defense minister Hanno Pevkur said his own govt had found another million shells & rockets for Ukraine.
FORBESBUSINESSAEROSPACE & DEFENSE

Estonia Just Found Another Million Shells For Ukraine That’s half or 50% artillery ammunition Ukrainian gunners need for the rest of the year
(Apr 6, 2024) The Ukrainian 43RD ARTILLERY BRIGADE PHOTO

Pevkur told Postimees he’s trying to scrounge, from same countries that paid $1.3 billion for the Czech-sourced ammunition, an additional $2.2 billion to pay for Estonian-sourced ammo. “If we combine these one million shells, the Czechs' potential purchases, our buying capabilities and also the British”—who reportedly are organizing their own ammo-for-Ukraine initiative—“I dare say that it would be possible to send Ukraine two-to-2.5 million shells this year, if the funding were available,” Pevkur said.

With 2.5 million additional shells and rockets through end of the year, Ukrainians could match Russia’s own ammo supply, Pevkur claimed. It would be the first time in a year that the Ukrainians could fire as many shells and rockets as the Russians could fire.

Here’s what’s really exciting for friends of a free Ukraine. If Rep. Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of U.S. House of Representatives, keeps his word &—after 6-mths of delay caused by the Republican Party’s Russia-friendly wing— this finally brings to a vote further U.S. aid to Ukraine, Kyiv’s forces could achieve artillery superiority in the coming mths.

Exactly where Estonia might source the shells and rockets, Pevkur wouldn’t specify. “Mainly from non-European countries,” he said, “but there are also some in Europe. Unfortunately, I cannot specify. In many cases, the seller themselves does not wish it to be known.” Pevkur said shells include NATO-standard 155-millimeter rounds as well as Soviet-standard 152-millimeter rounds & Grad rockets, implying Estonians are, in part, looking to countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. African countries might also be candidates. 

While, Czech reportedly sourced ammo fm South Korea, South Africa and Turkey.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/20...f96de5ba1e

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Estonia (neighbour to near Lithuania) Another Million Shells For Ukraine army. That’s half, 50% artillery ammunition Ukrainian gunners. Now...

With the war entering into third year, 

Ukraine is leaning hard to a million drones as a combat strategy against Russia, ramping up its domestic production and counting on allies to deliver one million of them in the next 12 months.

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Russian Mercenaries Are Pushing France 1st, out of Central Africa and also Those Like China and the US. The Wagner Group.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/03/18/rus...al-africa/

Look like war has shift to Middle  East...like Syria, Lebanon Yemen, the Hamas and Somalia all back by Iran are suffering badly together fighting with against the Israel.
They are the poorest Arab countries any different from the richest Arab countries?...

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would listen to former US President Donald Trump’s ideas to end the war in Ukraine with “pleasure” but trod carefully around the issue during an interview at the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece.

The embattled Ukrainian leader’s remarks came after reports that the Republican presidential candidate reportedly said if he were to be reelected, he would pressure Ukraine into a peace deal with Russia that would see Kyiv cede territory in the process.

“First and foremost those signals were on certain media platforms. I haven’t heard that directly from Trump,” Zelensky told CNN’s Senior Correspondent Fred Pleitgen via video link from Ukraine. “His ideas in detail, I did not have an opportunity to discuss them with him and to discuss his ideas on how to end the war.”

Zelensky continued: “If I have such an opportunity I will with pleasure listen to them and then we can discuss the topic.” Prior to his remarks in Delphi on Wednesday, Zelensky previously told German newspaper The Bild that he had invited Trump to Ukraine “to see everything with his own eyes and draw his own conclusions.” He said that Trump had privately conveyed interest in accepting the invitation to visit Ukraine.

The Trump campaign on Wednesday pushed back on Zelensky’s comments, calling them “incorrect.”“There’s been no outreach from Zelensky, and President Trump has said it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to go to Ukraine right now since he’s not Commander in Chief,” a Trump campaign official told CNN.

The Ukrainian leader also used the economic forum to call on allies to be “realists” rather than “pessimists” when asked by Pleitgen about Ukraine’s lengthy wait times for Western weaponry production and mobilization as its forces are being “pushed back at the moment.”

Zelensky said the situation in the eastern regions of Ukraine had “stabilized now.”“We see how our GDP is rising because the maritime corridor is working.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/10/europ...index.html

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Russia forced to import fuel with up to 20% of its refining capacity. A new report from Oslo-based Arctic Securities estimates today 20% of Russia’s refining capacity has been knocked offline with as much as 3m more barrels per day risk increasingly daring raids by Ukrainian drones. 20% estimate is a significant jump from a week’s 15% estimate from NATO comes as flooding over the weekend took out another Russian refinery is knocked out.

Kyiv’s strategy to target its enemy’s oil refinery infrastructure has forced Russia, traditionally a net exporter of gasoline, to tap its neighbours for emergency fuel supplies. “Recent Russian efforts to import gasoline from Belarus and Kazakhstan indicate Russia is likely increasingly concerned about immediate domestic supply of distillate petroleum products following Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries,” “As of now, 10 refineries have been struck & suggest total capacity hit YTD is above 1m barrels per day, represents ~20% of total capacity, another 3m barrels per day at risk,” Arctic Securities reported.

For year as a whole, Arctic is incorporating a 0.25m barrels per day loss. Russian exports.

diesel exports have been around 1.2m barrels per day, approximately 5% of total seaborne volumes,  the recent increase in cracking spreads suggests  figure is falling. Arctic reported tankers have been re-routed needs to come from elsewhere. Recent refinery attacks have all been aimed at inland facilities, some more than 1,000 km into Russian territory, this Ukrainian attacks have hit refineries in Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea and Tuapse on the Black Sea (see map below).

Authorities found refinery attacks has been sourcing spare, with much replacement kit needed manufactured in US & Euro, both off-limits to sanctions., local is in low fuel as Russia’s Orsk oil refinery suspended work Sunday, after city’s dam burst on Friday amid flooding Orenburg region.

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Ukraine war: Key power plant near Kyiv destroyed by Russian strikes.

A major power plant near Kyiv was completely destroyed by Russian strikes early on Thursday, energy company Centrenergo said.

Trypillya power plant was the largest electricity provider for three regions, including Kyiv, officials said. "The scale of destruction is terrifying," said Centrenergo chairman Andriy Hota.

Russia has long been deliberately and systematically targeting Ukraine's energy system.
Mr Hota told the BBC that Thursday morning's strikes destroyed "the transformer, the turbines, the generators. They destroyed 100%".

A fire broke out in the turbine workshop of the Trypillya plant - located 50km (31 miles) to the south of Kyiv - following Thursday's large-scale airborne attack.

The Centrenergo boss said the plant was targeted by multiple missiles. Staff on shift were able to escape, he said, because they ran for cover as soon as the first drone hit.

Residents were urged to shut their windows, charge all their devices and stock up on water.

More than 80 missiles and drones targeted sites across Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday. Many targeted energy infrastructure and almost a third made it through Ukraine's air defences.

Hours later, Centrenergo confirmed its Trypillya plant had been put out of use. Mr Hota said his company's entire generative capacity in Ukraine was now destroyed.

It was one of Ukraine's largest providers of electricity and heat. It operated two other power plants - one in the Kharkiv region which was destroyed in late March, and one in an area of the Donetsk region that was taken over by Russia in 2022.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com...788110.amp

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Russia forced to import fuel with up to 20% of its refining capacity. A new report from Oslo-based Arctic Securities estimates today 20% of Russia’s refining capacity has been knocked offline with as much as 3m more barrels per day risk increasingly daring raids by Ukrainian drones. 20% estimate is a significant jump from a week’s 15% estimate from NATO comes as flooding over the weekend took out another Russian refinery is knocked out.

Kyiv’s strategy to target its enemy’s oil refinery infrastructure has forced Russia, traditionally a net exporter of gasoline, to tap its neighbours for emergency fuel supplies. “Recent Russian efforts to import gasoline from Belarus and Kazakhstan indicate Russia is likely increasingly concerned about immediate domestic supply of distillate petroleum products following Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries,” “As of now, 10 refineries have been struck & suggest total capacity hit YTD is above 1m barrels per day, represents ~20% of total capacity, another 3m barrels per day at risk,” Arctic Securities reported.

For year as a whole, Arctic is incorporating a 0.25m barrels per day loss. Russian exports.

diesel exports have been around 1.2m barrels per day, approximately 5% of total seaborne volumes,  the recent increase in cracking spreads suggests  figure is falling. Arctic reported tankers have been re-routed needs to come from elsewhere. Recent refinery attacks have all been aimed at inland facilities, some more than 1,000 km into Russian territory, this Ukrainian attacks have hit refineries in Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea and Tuapse on the Black Sea (see map below).

Authorities found refinery attacks has been sourcing spare, with much replacement kit needed manufactured in US & Euro, both off-limits to sanctions., local is in low fuel as Russia’s Orsk oil refinery suspended work Sunday, after city’s dam burst on Friday amid flooding Orenburg region.

Greece “Almost Certain” To Arm Ukraine With 32 Fighting Falcons As HAF ‘Loaded’ With F-35, Rafale & F16... 

They Ukraine is likely receiving 32 F-16 fighters from Greece, given its air force’s rapid modernization that will allow it to part with older platforms.

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Greece “Almost Certain” To Arm Ukraine With 32 Fighting Falcons As HAF ‘Loaded’ With F-35, Rafale & F16... 

They Ukraine is likely receiving 32 F-16 fighters from Greece, given its air force’s rapid modernization that will allow it to part with older platforms.

Greece “Almost Certain” To Arm Ukraine With 32 Fighting Falcons
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/greece-alm...e-f16/amp/

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Greece “Almost Certain” To Arm Ukraine With 32 Fighting Falcons
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/greece-alm...e-f16/amp/

OPINION: Ultimately New Phase in Arms Production: from American Ware to Ukrainian Factories, this's is response to Russia's armed aggression.

Ukraine, once world's breadbasket, has had to focus more reinforcing it military arsenal along with most West countries. Weapons displayed visited by German & Ukrainian Defence Ministers to training facility outside Kyiv, Nov 21, 2023 tell strong show.
 
Since Russia full-scale invasion in February 2022, we has In 2023 tripled national production volumes of our weapons & military equipment.
It's important to realize weapons & equipment deliveries provided to us by allies are not merely acts of charity or loyalty. 

Our use of weaponry, much of it used in battle for first time, has a direct influence on development of defense industries in the countries of origin.

Companies whose equipment has been used on military ops in Ukraine have obtained significant advantages over competitors as they seek new markets. To put it bluntly, war has acted excellent advertisement for artillery systems, air defense systems, drones, armored vehicles, helicopters, and other equipment.

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Kyiv says eastern front 'deteriorated' as Russia claims village .uRssia claimed the capture of a village near the occupied industrial town of Avdiivka. AFP.

"Situation on the eastern front has deteriorated significantly in recent days," said Syrsky, who took over as commander-in-chief in February after Ukrainian President Zelensky fired his popular predecessor, Valery Zaluzhny.

Russia's ministry announced its troops had "liberated" village of Pervomaiske in Donetsk region, about 11 km (7 miles) west of the largely destroyed town of Avdiivka, captured by Russia in the middle of February this year 

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Greece “Almost Certain” To Arm Ukraine With 32 Fighting Falcons As HAF ‘Loaded’ With F-35, Rafale & F16... 

They Ukraine is likely receiving 32 F-16 fighters from Greece, given its air force’s rapid modernization that will allow it to part with older platforms.

Ukrainian Fighter Pilots Are Itching To Glide-Bomb Russian Troops. Ukraine’s New Ram II Drones Are Clearing The Way. 

The Ram II is waits for Russian air defenses to appear—and then X strike on this X.

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Ukrainian Fighter Pilots Are Itching To Glide-Bomb Russian Troops. Ukraine’s New Ram II Drones Are Clearing The Way. 

The Ram II is waits for Russian air defenses to appear—and then X strike on this X.

There’s a middle ground along edge of the battlefield in Ukrain, a ribbon of land 15 - 25 miles from front line too far away for enemy howitzers & 1st-person-view drones to strike & close enough for mobile air-defense vehicle to target enemy aircraft operating over near the front. first 2-yrs Russia’s wider war on Ukraine, Ukrainian forces didn’t has weapons optimized for striking this air-defense zone — but Russian forces did: their Lancet loitering munitions. Russian Lancets has struck hundreds of Ukrainian vehicles, including scores of air-defense vehicles, helping to drive Ukrainian air-defenders away from front line—and thus creating a safe zone for Russian war jets & helicopters to operate this 25-pound propeller-driven drones— costing $35,000 each—fly tight circles, scanning with onboard cameras til they spot something matching shape of an enemy vehicle. they zoom in and explode.

Now it’s the Ukrainians’ turn. In February, Ukraine’s drone industry began mass-producing a Lancet analogue, the Ram II. Manufactured by Deviro, the Ram II isn’t actually a copy of the Lancet. Rather, it’s an upgraded version of an older Ukrainian drone called the Leleka-100.

A Ram II ranges as far as 19 miles with a seven-pound warhead and strikes within three feet of its target, according to Deviro. The company described it as “revolutionary [and] easy to use.”

A Ram II (functions) is Lancet-2 does: the same loiters, then scans strikes within (only) minimal input from a human operator. It appearing along the front line in recent weeks, RAM II has begun wreaking havoc on Russian air now said Ukraine. One single day April 9, open-source intelligence analyst Andrew Perpetua counted 5-Russian air defense vehicles believed were hit by Ram IIs...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/20...1bd6f07360

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There’s a middle ground along edge of the battlefield in Ukrain, a ribbon of land 15 - 25 miles from front line too far away for enemy howitzers & 1st-person-view drones to strike & close enough for mobile air-defense vehicle to target enemy aircraft operating over near the front. first 2-yrs Russia’s wider war on Ukraine, Ukrainian forces didn’t has weapons optimized for striking this air-defense zone — but Russian forces did: their Lancet loitering munitions. Russian Lancets has struck hundreds of Ukrainian vehicles, including scores of air-defense vehicles, helping to drive Ukrainian air-defenders away from front line—and thus creating a safe zone for Russian war jets & helicopters to operate this 25-pound propeller-driven drones— costing $35,000 each—fly tight circles, scanning with onboard cameras til they spot something matching shape of an enemy vehicle. they zoom in and explode.

Now it’s the Ukrainians’ turn February, Ukraine’s drone industry began mass-producing Lancet analogue, Ram II. Manufactured by Deviro, Ram II isn’t actually a copy of the Lancet. Rather, it’s an upgraded version of older Ukrainian drone called the Leleka-100.

A Ram II ranges as far as 19 miles with 7-pound warhead & strikes within 3-feet of its target, according to Deviro. The coy described it as

“revolutionary easy to use.”

A Ram II (functions) is Lancet-2 does: the same loiters, then scans strikes within (only) minimal input from a human operator. It appearing along the front line in recent weeks, RAM II has begun wreaking havoc on Russian air now said Ukraine. One single day April 9, open-source intelligence analyst Andrew Perpetua counted 5-Russian air defense vehicles believed were hit by Ram IIs...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/20...1bd6f07360

There is a will there is a way, will to stop been bully is very strong, is with the Ukrainian folks, is going stronger by day.


☆》 @Follow Will. Follow way the will go. It will match Putin/Russian halfway

If there is a will....Ukraine will not give up halfway, to protect their sovereignty against invaders and aggressors.

Putin is though, he think as a mad man till year..., then can wake up in 2027.

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Ukrainian Fighter Pilots Are Itching To Glide-Bomb Russian Troops. Ukraine’s New Ram II Drones Are Clearing The Way. 

The Ram II is waits for Russian air defenses to appear—and then X strike on this X.

New, newer & newest coming this year 2024.

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The Russian Navy Had Three Giant Be-200 Flying Boats. Then Ukrainian Drones Swarmed In. One of the Be-200s lost a wing in an April 5 drone raid, drone strikes on Yeysk, Kursk and Engels-2 air bases—respectively 100, 200 and 400 miles from the front line in Ukraine.

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Ukraine’s attacks Russian oil refineries is growing threat AI drones pose to energy markets.
Ukraine-launched drones have hit 18 Russian oil refineries with a combined capacity of 3.9 million barrels per day this year, according to JPMorgan, estimates 670,000 bpd of refining capacity is currently offline due to the strikes. Kyiv’s capabilities are growing, with drones demonstrating longer range utilizing artificial intelligence to improve precision.

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Zelenskiy signs new mobilisation law in effort to boost Ukraine’s exhausted forces. Kyiv brings in higher payments for volunteers and new punishments for draft dodgers

Poland will cooperate with the European Sky Shield Initiative air defence umbrella and it makes sense for the country to be part of several air defence systems, the country’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, has announced.

The European Sky Shield Initiative is a common air defence scheme set up by Germany in 2022 to boost European air defence.

Warsaw has been one of Kyiv’s staunchest supporters since Russia’s February 2022 invasion and has said Ukraine must regain control over all of its territory in order to deter Moscow from further aggression
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...ar-warning

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Greece “Almost Certain” To Arm Ukraine With 32 Fighting Falcons As HAF ‘Loaded’ With F-35, Rafale & F16... 

They Ukraine is likely receiving 32 F-16 fighters from Greece, given its air force’s rapid modernization that will allow it to part with

On April 15, 2024, Ukrainian aircraft launched British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles at a Russian military HQ in occupied city of Luhansk. 

The strike, carried out on Saturday, April 13, 2024, targeted major Russian armed forces vase. A military revealed that the command base for Russian ground troops was the target, marking a significant step in Ukraine's campaign to reclaim the Luhansk region from Russian control.

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Ukraine at War Update for April 17: Donetsk Region Still Main Russian Focal Point as Nation's Civilians Take More Hits. Washington's bi-cameral legislature still wavers on more funding for Ukraine amid a full-invasion. 
 
Russia’s main battlefield target remains Chasiv Yar. Russian aerial attack kills two civilians and injures four at Kharkiv regional school

Ukrainian human rights official says 37,000 people still missing

National Security and Defense Council compiles list of hostile X (Twitter) accounts

Invading Russian forces gained an estimated 20-30 square kilometers (18 miles) of Ukrainian territory last week, according to Kyiv-based Dragon Capital, April 15. Moscow’s main focus remains the high-ground Chasiv Yar town just 15 k/m west of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. That town is seen as a gateway to Kramatorsk and Slovyansk in the same region, along with Kostyantynivka.

Ukrainian Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky said over the weekend that the situation in Donetsk Oblast is “deteriorating.”

He said that the Russian military command had issued an order to capture Chasiv Yar by May 9 when Russia commemorates the Soviet-era Victory Day holiday that observes when the USSR emerged as one of victors World War II.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/31225

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Greece “Almost Certain” To Arm Ukraine With 32 Fighting Falcons
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/greece-alm...e-f16/amp/

Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan likely to get those U.S. aids. This week likely house will vote on those bill.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...republican

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US President Joe Biden has said he "strongly supports" a new $61bn (£49bn) aid bill for Ukraine, arguing it will "send a message to the world".

The long-stalled measure is one of four that the House of Representatives will vote on this Saturday. The legislation will also include funding for Israel as well as the Indo-Pacific.

Opposition from the right wing of the Republican party has stymied potential assistance for Ukraine for months.

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Johnson won’t change rules over removing him from speakership after hardliners revolt.

Speaker Mike Johnson announced he will not change the procedure for removing him from the speakership, after hardliners reacted with fury to a proposed change to House rules.

“Since the beginning of the 118th Congress, the House rule allowing a Motion to Vacate from a single member has harmed this office and our House majority,” Johnson wrote on X.

“Recently, many members have encouraged me to endorse a new rule to raise this threshold. While I understand the importance of that idea, any rule change requires a majority of the full House, which we do not have. We will continue to govern under the existing rules.”

CNN and other outlets reported Thursday morning that, according to multiple GOP sources, Johnson was being lobbied by his members to raise the threshold required to trigger the procedure to oust the speaker – a move that would help ensure the Louisiana Republican can pass foreign aid bills and still keep his job without needing to rely on Democrats to bail him out. 

Currently, any single member can force a floor vote on motion to vacate — part of the deal Kevin McCarthy made to become speaker last year.
Suggestion has set off another round of fury amid conservative lawmakers who are unhappy. with speaker over his proposed package of bills to send aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan among other priorities. 

An effort has been brewing for weeks to potentially oust Johnson, led by Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, & proposal to change the rules around ousting the speaker has ignited intense speculation over Johnson’s future.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/18/politics/...index.html

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April 15, 2024, Ukrainian aircraft launched British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles at a Russian military HQ in occupied city of Luhansk. 

Strike, carried out on Saturday, April 13, 2024, targeted major Russian armed forces vase. A military revealed that the command base for Russian ground troops was the target, marking a significant step in Ukraine's campaign to reclaim the Luhansk region from Russian control.

President Biden unexpectedly gifted Ukraine a $300m consignment weapons—last consignment paid for by U.S. Congress b4 Republicans gained control U.S. House of Representatives. 

5-Weeks later, Ukrainian finally put weapons to good use. Arms included al number of long-range M39 rockets, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS. Tuesday night, Ukrainian army maybe fired all at Russian air base in occupied Crimea.
 Damage was extensive. 

Imagery from Dzhankoy air base, 100 miles south of the front line confirm. Russians lost at least four launchers belonging to S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile battery.

Ukrainian defense claimed rockets also knocked out S-400’s control center and four precious air-defense radars. Says Ukrainian Center Defense Strategies, a regiment of helicopters, 3squadrons of attack jets—dozens of aircraft in all—fly from Dzhankoy. It’s unclear any of the aircraft were damaged or destroyed on Tuesday night, 

however, they“enemy carefully hides some of affected aircraft,” defense ministry in Kyiv noted.

Lumbering M270 Launchers Just Lobbed Eight ATACMS Rockets With 8,000 Submunitions At A Russian Base In Crimea. Damage is extensive.

A video a ministry released Thursday seems to depict 8 M39s streaking across night sky, somewhere around the free city of Kherson. 

Each 100-mile-range rocket carried nearly thousand grenade-sized submunitions inside 13-foot body mean 8,000 individual explosions rocked the Russian base.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/20...d4238f3f78

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Kyiv says eastern front 'deteriorated' as Russia claims village .uRssia claimed the capture of a village near the occupied industrial town of Avdiivka. AFP.

"Situation on the eastern front has deteriorated significantly in recent days," said Syrsky, who took over as commander-in-chief in February after Ukrainian President Zelensky fired his popular predecessor, Valery Zaluzhny.

Russia's ministry announced its troops had "liberated" village of Pervomaiske in Donetsk region, about 11 km (7 miles) west of the largely destroyed town of Avdiivka, captured by Russia in the middle of February this year 

The speedy HIMARS are media darlings in Ukraine: symbols of one of the Ukrainian military’s few technological advantages over the bigger and better-funded Russian military. 

The Tuesday raid was a rare chance for the lumbering M270s to shine.

The first consignment of M39s from US arrived in Ukraine last fall, few weeks b4 U.S. funding for the Ukrainian war effort began to run out.

Considering package included just 20 or M39s, it’s likely belated aid in March—White House paid for with unexpected savings from a previous contract weapons for Ukraine—included fewer of 1990s-vintage munitions. possible there were just eight rockets, and that platoon of M270s fired all of them at Dzhankoy in a single fiery barrage.

If damage was as bad as Ukrainian defense ministry claimed, it may been worth it to fire all M39s. The Ukrainians can take comfort in knowing it’s highly likely they’re about to get more ATACMS rockets— some potentially, a lot more....

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Johnson won’t change rules over removing him from speakership after hardliners revolt.

Speaker Mike Johnson announced he will not change the procedure for removing him from the speakership, after hardliners reacted with fury to a proposed change to House rules.

“Since the beginning of the 118th Congress, the House rule allowing a Motion to Vacate from a single member has harmed this office and our House majority,” Johnson wrote on X.

“Recently, many members have encouraged me to endorse a new rule to raise this threshold. While I understand the importance of that idea, any rule change requires a majority of the full House, which we do not have. We will continue to govern under the existing rules.”

CNN and other outlets reported Thursday morning that, according to multiple GOP sources, Johnson was being lobbied by his members to raise the threshold required to trigger the procedure to oust the speaker – a move that would help ensure the Louisiana Republican can pass foreign aid bills and still keep his job without needing to rely on Democrats to bail him out. 

Currently, any single member can force a floor vote on motion to vacate — part of the deal Kevin McCarthy made to become speaker last year.
Suggestion has set off another round of fury amid conservative lawmakers who are unhappy. with speaker over his proposed package of bills to send aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan among other priorities. 

An effort has been brewing for weeks to potentially oust Johnson, led by Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, & proposal to change the rules around ousting the speaker has ignited intense speculation over Johnson’s future.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/18/politics/...index.html

That’s because the Republican Speaker of the House, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, is finally bringing to a vote Biden’s proposal to spend $61 billion on weapons and other aid for Ukraine through the end of the year. 

The long-delayed vote, which is strongly opposed by a minority of Russia-friendly Republicans, is scheduled for Saturday—and is expected to pass.

A provision in the bill requires Biden is LOL ✓to send more ATACMS to Ukraine. 

There are hundreds of the old rockets in the U.S. inventory, and their solid fuel is expiring soon. 

There’s no reason White House Biden’s
couldn’t send all of them to Ukraine after the vote this weekend.  LOL.

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After their PM halts Ukraine aid, Slovaks dig deep to help Ukrainian crowdfunding campaign in Slovakia to buy artillery shells for Ukraine has exceeded its target of €1m (£850k), less than 48 hrs after launched. A response Slovak govt refusal to join an initiative by buy thousands of shells for Ukrainian armed forces.

"We have to drive Putin out of Ukraine & defeat him," said a Holocaust survivor and veteran of the 1944 Slovak National Uprising against Nazis.Aged 99, he helped kickstart campaign to challenge govt's policy.I lived through 2nd WWII & fought in it. I can tell you no point negotiating with Hitler and no point negotiating with Putin," Simko told the BBC from Bratislava. A conversation with Slovak veteran had the journalist and philosopher that led to the idea of crowdfunding help for Kyiv.
Otto Simko who's 99 has dipped into his pension to pay into the fund. it allows Slovaks to bypass their govt of Robert Fico, in October pledging not to send "one more round of ammunition" to Kyiv.

For Fico flatly refused to join about 20 countries that have signed up to Czech ops to procure large quantities of artillery ammunition. The Slovak PM says West's of arming Ukraine is only prolonging conflict should lay down its arms and sue for peace with Moscow / Putin.

The crowdfunding campaign has provided an outlet for those Slovaks agree with him writing more than 23,000 people had donated more than €1.5m euros since launched on Tues afternoon. Money will go directly to Czech govt's initiative.
We're really pleasantly surprised at huge force it's awoken," said Folks from "Peace to Ukraine" in running this effort in conjunction w/Czechbased Endowment Fund for Ukraine.A sign resistance on Slovak society by against govt foreign policy of Robert Fico," she told BBC.Campaign, running under the slogan "If The Govt Won't - We Will", would continue even now it had met its target, she said. Fico not commented publicly on campaign. However, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak told Markiza TV stn Slovakia was a democracy nation and people were free to do what they wanted. His govt was working instead on providing Kyiv with assistance such as demining equipment, he said.

Reuters Slovakia's PM Robert Fico attends a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium March 22, 2024. He halted Slovak military aid but insists he wants to be a "good, friendly neighbour" to Russia, to Putin.

The Czech ammunition initiative sees Prague acting as a middleman, combining extensive defence contacts dating back to Cold War with money from EU & Nato partners to procure ammunition for Ukraine's shell-starved.
YAKIV LIASHENKO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstoc
Post Bellum/Martin ŠestákReuters

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Ukraine Targets Russia Power Stations & Oil Depot with Kamikaze Drones, been told to Kyiv Post, SBU drones once again critical infrastructure, uninterruptehà operations.

Sources within Ukrainian special services informed Kyiv Post that Ukraine utilized kamikaze drones to strike at energy infrastructure supplying facilities of the Russian military-industrial complex. The operation resulted in damage to electric substations and a fuel storage base within Russia. Earlier, Russia's Defense reported kamikaze drone attacks on several fuel & energy complex facilities across country.

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Russia’s war in Ukraine is taking a toll on its own Belgorod region - Ghostly’ city

Deserted streets, shuttered shops and silent restaurants. Damaged buildings and craters from missile strikes pockmarking the asphalt. Arrows on house facades signposting the nearest bomb shelters and stock of emergency supplies.T he once-tranquil city of Belgorod, some 25 miles north of Russia’s border with Ukraine, has been transformed into a kind of ghost town, its eerie silence interrupted by the regular wail of missile warning sirens – a reminder that the war raging in neighboring Ukraine looms ever closer.

Reporting from region is complicated by media restrictions & govt control over press freedom. Many Russians are afraid to speak openly for fear of prosecution.

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That’s because the Republican Speaker of the House, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, is finally bringing to a vote Biden’s proposal to spend $61 billion on weapons and other aid for Ukraine through the end of the year. 

The long-delayed vote, which is strongly opposed by a minority of Russia-friendly Republicans, is scheduled for Saturday—and is expected to pass.

A provision in the bill requires Biden is LOL ✓to send more ATACMS to Ukraine. 

There are hundreds of the old rockets in the U.S. inventory, and their solid fuel is expiring soon. 

There’s no reason White House Biden’s
couldn’t send all of them to Ukraine after the vote this weekend.  LOL.

Ukraine aid package could help Kyiv slow Russia’s advance & stop the is recent lack of ammo that has help Russian / Putin forces capturing hundreds of square kilometres of Ukraine territory.

With aid arrives, Ukraine can potentially challenge Russia's air superiority, frustrate their supply lines slow their advancing troops and stop try ston.

Ukraine President said after mths delays. on aid, it can save thousands of lives, while it's not uncommon for a country's future to be decided by politicians, a nation's very existence hinging on a vote 5,000 miles away is as extraordinary as it sounds.

For Ukraine, the six-month wait for this military package has been as costly as it has been frustrating. With dwindling ammunition has cost lives & territory. For Vitaliy, a serving soldier who bump into in central Kyiv, it's important to focus on the positives. "Every cent matters," he says. "It is very much needed. We need everything. Every cartridge, every cent, every positive thought. 

We need all of it. This aid is to save cities and men and property.

It won't give Ukraine the instant means to start liberating territory, but force Russia back - but it gives a window for that to happen in the near future.

The consensus in Kyiv and Washington is that without this American help, Ukraine would lose. In this period of rare boosts for Kyiv, was a biggie that has arrival from U.S. American, in with weaponry will allow its beleaguered troops to do more than hang on. it's no a silver bullet as Ukrainian must work fast, hard and start replay again.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68868399

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Ukraine aid package could help Kyiv slow Russia’s advance & stop the is recent lack of ammo that has help Russian / Putin forces capturing hundreds of square kilometres of Ukraine territory.

With aid arrives, Ukraine can potentially challenge Russia's air superiority, frustrate their supply lines slow their advancing troops and stop try ston.

Ukraine President said after mths delays. on aid, it can save thousands of lives, while it's not uncommon for a country's future to be decided by politicians, a nation's very existence hinging on a vote 5,000 miles away is as extraordinary as it sounds.

For Ukraine, the six-month wait for this military package has been as costly as it has been frustrating. With dwindling ammunition has cost lives & territory. For Vitaliy, a serving soldier who bump into in central Kyiv, it's important to focus on the positives. "Every cent matters," he says. "It is very much needed. We need everything. Every cartridge, every cent, every positive thought. 

We need all of it. This aid is to save cities and men and property.

It won't give Ukraine the instant means to start liberating territory, but force Russia back - but it gives a window for that to happen in the near future.

The consensus in Kyiv and Washington is that without this American help, Ukraine would lose. In this period of rare boosts for Kyiv, was a biggie that has arrival from U.S. American, in with weaponry will allow its beleaguered troops to do more than hang on. it's no a silver bullet as Ukrainian must work fast, hard and start replay again.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68868399

'Better late than never'

On a miserable Sunday morning, the warmth Kyiv metro will always beat the wet streets above. It's where we meet folks who's pleased with US aid finally being approved. "I'm really happy," he says. But is just a bit disappointed it took so long. Anyways, it's better late than never."

Folks like Maxym is frustrated by growing debate over whether Ukraine must negotiate peace with Russia at the expense of soldiers & territory lost.

50,000 Russian soldiers confirmed dead by BBC
Ukraine warns of WW3 ahead of stalled US aid.
"Russia doesn't want to negotiate," he explains. "They don't want this middle ground that Europe & US think will end this war. They want it all." We also meet a woman, Vita, holding her son's pulling him off a train. "How else can Ukraine survive without it?" she asks. "It can't. We don't have such an army and weapons." She becomes v.emotional 
really we need help, our children can survive, so we waited & nods towards her son".

Past 6-mths has not only revealed Russia's dominance, but Europe's inability to provide the same level of support as US.

"We need to think about hypothetical eventuality for next package of US aid might not pass," says Mykola Bieleskov, a research fellow at Ukrainian National Institute for Strategic Studies..
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68868399