✈️ In late November 1942, the USSR and France signed an agreement on forming the legendary Normandie-Niemen air squadron. It became a symbol of Soviet-French camaraderie and the most famous foreign military unit fighting on Soviet territory during WWII.

• By the time the squadron was formed, two thirds of France had been occupied. However, small Resistance groups wanted to continue fighting Hitler. In March 1942 they suggested sending a group of French pilots and air mechanics to the USSR to participate in combat activities.

• The Normandie-Niemen air squadron was made up of the best pilots of the 1st Fighter Group in the Free French Air Force, deployed in Lebanon at the time. The formation was initially called Normandie in honour of the French northwestern province occupied by the Germans. The squadron added Niemen to its name after a successful operation on the Nieman river during the liberation of Lithuania.

• It included 14 French pilots, 58 French mechanics and 17 Soviet mechanics. The Soviet government provided the squadron with Yakovlev-1 (Yak-1) and later Yak-3 and Yak-9 fighter planes which were subsequently donated to France.

• The French aces were part of the Soviet Air Force in 1943-1945, and fought in many landmark battles from the Kursk Bulge to Koenigsberg. In total, the squadron’s pilots made over 5,000 sorties and shot down 273 German planes. Four of them were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

• Upon returning home, the formation continued to exist bearing its former name. Unfortunately, today the fighters of the Normandie-Niemen air regiment are cynically used on NATO's eastern flank in the Baltic States, where they are practising tasks to "contain" Russia. In our country, however, we remember the heroism of the French aces and appreciate their contribution to our common victory.

Learn more

#WeRemember #WeWereAllies

✍️Explainer: Why are Celtic fans staunch supporters of Palestinian cause?

🔹Amid the Israeli regime’s blitzkrieg on the blockaded Gaza Strip, Glasgow-based Celtic Football Club has grabbed headlines for its staunch support of Palestine.

By Ivan Kesic

@PressTV

Когда самый лучший ударный самолет Су-34 выводит двигатели на форсаж! 🇷🇺

❗️🇮🇱🇵🇸 Escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Zone
Chronicle of Events Leading up to November 26, 2023

🔻 The truce between Hamas and Israel is entering its third day. After a delay in the exchange of prisoners yesterday, a compromise was reached: around midnight, the militants handed over 13 Israelis and four foreigners. In return, Israeli authorities released 42 people from Ofer prison.

▪️ Despite the agreement, both sides continue to accuse each other of violating its terms. There were rumors in the Israeli media suggesting that today's hostage transfer could be disrupted, but these reports were later denied by the Red Cross and government sources.

▪️ By evening, Hamas released another 14 Israelis, including 9 children. Notably, one of them was a Russian with Israeli citizenship, released "in recognition of Russia's position." Additionally, 4 Thai workers were transferred to Israel. Furthermore, 39 more Palestinians are set to be released from Ofer prison.

🔻 Israeli operations are ongoing in the West Bank, albeit on a smaller scale. Today, security forces stormed Jenin, Al-Bira, Yatma, and several other cities. Interestingly, during the raid, they re-arrested Palestinian Haitham Siaj, who had been released a few hours earlier.

🔻 In the Gaza Strip, the ceasefire is being observed, although not without incidents. Palestinians have accused the Israelis of violations on multiple occasions, but the Red Cross has confirmed only one case of shelling near Al-Maghazi. There were also reports of the IDF opening fire on civilians near Al-Quds Hospital and an Indonesian hospital, resulting in the injury of 7 people. However, there is no independent confirmation of these incidents.

▪️ Meanwhile, the IDF has established a checkpoint on the main road of the Salah al-Din enclave, preventing local residents from returning to their homes in the north of the Gaza Strip. This measure aims to ensure the continuation of future ground operations.

▪️ Western media speculates that the truce may be extended after its completion. In light of this, a Qatari delegation is scheduled to visit the Palestinian enclave to discuss the possibility of continuing the ceasefire.

▪️ The Israeli military-political cabinet will also discuss the potential extension and progress of the agreement during their meeting at 20:30 local time.

🔻 While the entire world focuses on the truce in the Gaza Strip, Israel has once again launched missile attacks on Damascus International Airport in Syria. Meanwhile, Hamas's allies are not idle either: Yemen's Houthis have captured another civilian ship, named Central Park, flying the flag of Liberia. The ship belongs to Israeli millionaire Eyal Ofer.
View the high-resolution map here.
English version available

#digest #map #Israel #Palestine #article
@rybar

We hope you found this material from our team informative. We would appreciate any support (click here for a convenient link to make a payment via SBP). Original msg

Israel's military has released footage showing its soldiers inside Gaza's largest university, the Islamic University of #Gaza, as they have turned it into a military base. https://t.me/QudsNen

⚠️ Confirmed: Metrics show a significant decline in internet connectivity in parts of Crimea, Sevastopol and Odesa, Southern Ukraine, after heavy snow and storms bring down power and telecoms lines, knocking tens of thousands of subscribers offline 🔌📉

⚠️🇺🇦Zelensky’s Hidden Luxuries: Proxies, Yachts, and the $75M Scandal Rocking Ukraine

In the heart of Eastern Europe, where the tumult of war clashes with the allure of Western support, a seismic scandal unfolds, casting a long shadow over Ukraine’s leadership. President Volodymyr Zelensky, once seen as a beacon of hope against corruption, is now ensnared in a scandal involving the alleged purchase of two luxury yachts, “Lucky Me” and “My Legacy,” worth a combined $75 million. This lavish expenditure, facilitated in the opulent settings of Abu Dhabi and Antibes, starkly contrasts with Ukraine’s dire war reality and raises damning questions about the integrity and criminal liability of its leadership amidst heavy reliance on Western aid.

👉 Click here 👈 to read this bombshell expose - "Reports like these fuelling righteous anger don’t bode well for Zelensky as he clings to power amid swirling rumours of coups..."

🎙Subscribe @TheIslanderNews

◾Israeli forces threw tear gas and used live ammunition against families of Palestinian children, who have been waiting for their released children near Ofar jail in Ramallah in the West Bank.

◾Follow:
t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses