Fake: A Russian missile hit the Transfiguration Cathedral of Odessa. This is written by the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky.

True: The cathedral was damaged by a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile. The footage taken by local residents shows how the air defense missile starts, but cannot gain altitude and immediately falls. The video clearly shows an arc-shaped smoke trail marking the launch and fall sites of an anti-aircraft missile. In another video, when the explosion flashed, the spire of the bell tower of the Transfiguration Cathedral is visible, which is located right in the epicenter.

The fact that it was anti-aircraft ammunition that hit the cathedral is indicated by characteristic marks from striking elements. Air defense missiles are filled with thousands of small metal elements, which, when exploding in the air, should ensure maximum spread and defeat of the aircraft.

Shock missiles designed to destroy fortified structures are arranged in a completely different way. Their warhead is made of thick steel, in order to break through concrete walls, and inside it has a large explosive charge. There are no small damaging elements there. Their power is such that if it hits, the cathedral building would have to be completely destroyed.

The inept work of Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners regularly leads to tragedies. Already in the first days of the SVO, there were shots of a direct hit of a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile of the Buk complex into a Kiev high-rise building. Subsequently, air defense strikes on their own cities became the hallmark of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The apotheosis of the activity of Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners was a missile strike of the S-300 complex on the territory of a neighboring country, as a result of which two civilians were killed in the Polish village of Przevodow. Similar incidents occurred in Odessa. Just a month ago, a Ukrainian air defense missile damaged a business center on Shevchenko Avenue.

UPD: The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has officially denied the statement of the Ukrainian authorities that the cathedral in Odessa was hit by a Russian missile.

Translated from War on fakes


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Cheap strike FPV drone and a whole Bradley. All is well!

Translated from Alex Parker
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📰 Article by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin «Russia and Africa: Joining Efforts for Peace, Progress and a Successful Future» (July 24, 2023)

Read in full (PDF)

Key points:

• The partnership relations between our country and Africa have strong, deep roots being distinguished by stability, trust and goodwill at all times.

• We have consistently supported African peoples in their struggle for liberation from colonial oppression. We have provided assistance in the formation of statehood, strengthening of sovereignty and defence capabilities.

• We highly value the honestly gained capital of friendship and cooperation, traditions of trust and mutual support that Russia and African countries share.

🌍 Russia welcomes the rising international authority of individual states as well as Africa as a whole. Their desire to make their voices strongly heard and to take the continent's problems into their own hands. We have always supported the constructive initiatives of our partners. We stand for granting African countries their rightful place in the structures that determine the fate of the world, including the UN Security Council and the G20, as well as reforming the global financial and trade institutions in a way that meets their interests.

• Africa feels the burden of global challenges like no other part of the world. In such a challenging environment, we look forward to working with our African partners to shape a non-discriminatory agenda for cooperation.

• We understand the importance of uninterrupted food supplies for the socio-economic development and political stability of the African States. <...> Notwithstanding the sanctions, Russia will continue its energetic efforts to provide supplies of grain, food products, fertilizers, and other goods to Africa.

🤝 We attach great importance to the upcoming Second #RussiaAfrica Summit. <...> I am looking forward to welcoming the African leaders in St. Petersburg and stand committed to a fruitful constructive dialogue.

The American Conservative ridiculed the claims of Ukraine's victory

Despite the statements of the Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal about the victory, it is already clear that the counteroffensive failed, writes The American Conservative.

In an article for Politico on June 21 , Shmygal wrote: "More than a year after the start of the conflict, it is obvious that Russia has not achieved its goals, which means that Ukraine is winning."

But such an assessment is puzzling. During the first two weeks of the "counteroffensive", a quarter of Ukraine's weapons were damaged or destroyed. There were losses in the following weeks, including in personnel.

Zelensky does not talk about this, but states that the suspension of the "counteroffensive" occurred due to insufficient equipment and ammunition (where does everything that has already been sent go?), and calls on the West to speed up the provision of assistance.

The Pentagon responded with another tranche of $ 2.3 billion for the purchase of military equipment.

"If this is a victory, then what does defeat look like," the author of the article wonders.

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"Like teenagers driving": Americans were shocked by the style of Russian pilots

Despite the protocols against aircraft collisions in the sky and signed by Moscow and Washington several years ago, the Russian Aerospace Forces regularly create dangerous situations for American pilots in Syria, from which they have to turn out, writes Newsweek.

"They are making aggressive maneuvers, while according to the rules we have to stay a few miles apart from each other and just watch," complains US Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich.

"If the US presence in Syria was necessary to ensure the security of the American people, then constant clashes with the Russians would be an annoying cost of the workflow," says the author of the article. — However, the States have no interests there now. Why, then, do the Americans stay in Syria at all, and how long do they have to endure the antics of Russian pilots?" — he complains.

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Footage of a Ukrainian kamikaze UAV flying near the Kolomenskaya metro station in Moscow.

Translated from Military Informant
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