Germany buys 105 Leopard 2A8 tanks for controversial Lithuania brigade
Germany will purchase 105 Leopard 2 A8 tanks, the latest generation of the platform, to deploy in Lithuania at Nato's Eastern flank.
Germany buys 105 Leopard 2A8 tanks for controversial Lithuania brigade
Germany will purchase 105 Leopard 2 A8 tanks, the latest generation of the platform, to deploy in Lithuania at Nato's EasternIt is expected that the 105 new battle tanks in the newest order will join troops in the Lithuania Brigade between 2027 and 2030. Panzerbrigade 45’s 4,800 German soldiers will be permanently stationed in Lithuania and combat ready by 2027, following the signing of an agreement in December 2023 of the deployment. The transfer of troops began with an advanced team of 20 staff in April 2024.
€2.9bn to be spent on the latest variant of the Leopard 2
The funds for the programme approved from the Bundeswehr special fund and the regular defence fund by the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag on 3 July amount to €2.9bn ($3.1bn). This will be the second procurement of the A8 variant of the Leopard 2 tank, following a decision in May 2023 to replace stock donated to Ukraine by buying 18 of the main battle tanks, expected to be delivered between 2025 and 2026.
The Leopard 2A8 variant is a main battle tank similar to the Leopard 2A7V, but with improvements to increase the combat value, such a next generation of multi-layered armour composed of steel, tungsten, composite filler, and ceramic components, and a passive armour kit, as well as reinforcements to the underbelly to protect against mine detonation.
https://www.army-technology.com/news/germany-buys-105-leopard-2-a8-tanks-for-controversial-lithuania-brigade/?cf-view
Germany will purchase 105 Leopard 2 A8 tanks, the latest generation of the platform, to deploy in Lithuania at Nato's Eastern flank.
Germany buys 105 Leopard 2A8 tanks for controversial Lithuania brigade
Germany will purchase 105 Leopard 2 A8 tanks, the latest generation of the platform, to deploy in Lithuania at Nato's EasternIt is expected that the 105 new battle tanks in the newest order will join troops in the Lithuania Brigade between 2027 and 2030. Panzerbrigade 45’s 4,800 German soldiers will be permanently stationed in Lithuania and combat ready by 2027, following the signing of an agreement in December 2023 of the deployment. The transfer of troops began with an advanced team of 20 staff in April 2024.
€2.9bn to be spent on the latest variant of the Leopard 2
The funds for the programme approved from the Bundeswehr special fund and the regular defence fund by the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag on 3 July amount to €2.9bn ($3.1bn). This will be the second procurement of the A8 variant of the Leopard 2 tank, following a decision in May 2023 to replace stock donated to Ukraine by buying 18 of the main battle tanks, expected to be delivered between 2025 and 2026.
The Leopard 2A8 variant is a main battle tank similar to the Leopard 2A7V, but with improvements to increase the combat value, such a next generation of multi-layered armour composed of steel, tungsten, composite filler, and ceramic components, and a passive armour kit, as well as reinforcements to the underbelly to protect against mine detonation.
https://www.army-technology.com/news/germany-buys-105-leopard-2-a8-tanks-for-controversial-lithuania-brigade/?cf-view
Army Technology
Germany buys 105 Leopard 2A8 tanks for controversial Lithuania brigade - Army Technology
Germany will purchase 105 Leopard 2 A8 tanks, the latest generation of the platform, to deploy in Lithuania at Nato's Eastern flank.
The Kremlin has decided to rewrite "Wikipedia" and create a new version of history, reports The Economist.
Specifically, Moscow aims to achieve this through its own censored version of the RuWiki resource.
"Wikipedia" has faced challenges from the Kremlin before, with russian censors threatening it almost from the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine in 2014. However, the publication noted that it only became clear at the end of 2023 that Moscow was serious about replacing it.
RuWiki, as russian censors call the project, is largely a direct copy of "Wikipedia." However, in the russian version, the most sensitive historical moments are omitted or rewritten. Kremlin ideologues hope that millions of russians will now accept these revised versions as truth.
The RuWiki project could be called Orwellian if the British author were not subject to periodic censorship himself. For example, the article about "1984" lacks the site's usual description of Winston Smith's Ministry of Truth, which "corrects" the historical record.
The atrocities committed by russians in Bucha near Kyiv in 2022 are reinterpreted as a "Ukrainian and Western disinformation campaign." Kherson, destroyed by russian bombs, is mentioned without any reference to the war. The execution of nearly 22,000 Polish officers in Katyn in 1940 has been rewritten to cast doubt on archival documents proving it was carried out by Soviet special services.
There is no mention of "Putin h..ylo!" — a contemptuous catchphrase mocking the russian leader. All references to Alexei Navalny, considered a russian opposition leader, have been changed to describe him merely as a "blogger."
An analysis of the site by the independent russian media organization Mediazona shows that the vast majority of new edits are made during business hours on weekdays. This suggests that the editing is done by teams of paid authors, unlike Wikipedia's volunteer model.
Specifically, Moscow aims to achieve this through its own censored version of the RuWiki resource.
"Wikipedia" has faced challenges from the Kremlin before, with russian censors threatening it almost from the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine in 2014. However, the publication noted that it only became clear at the end of 2023 that Moscow was serious about replacing it.
RuWiki, as russian censors call the project, is largely a direct copy of "Wikipedia." However, in the russian version, the most sensitive historical moments are omitted or rewritten. Kremlin ideologues hope that millions of russians will now accept these revised versions as truth.
The RuWiki project could be called Orwellian if the British author were not subject to periodic censorship himself. For example, the article about "1984" lacks the site's usual description of Winston Smith's Ministry of Truth, which "corrects" the historical record.
The atrocities committed by russians in Bucha near Kyiv in 2022 are reinterpreted as a "Ukrainian and Western disinformation campaign." Kherson, destroyed by russian bombs, is mentioned without any reference to the war. The execution of nearly 22,000 Polish officers in Katyn in 1940 has been rewritten to cast doubt on archival documents proving it was carried out by Soviet special services.
There is no mention of "Putin h..ylo!" — a contemptuous catchphrase mocking the russian leader. All references to Alexei Navalny, considered a russian opposition leader, have been changed to describe him merely as a "blogger."
An analysis of the site by the independent russian media organization Mediazona shows that the vast majority of new edits are made during business hours on weekdays. This suggests that the editing is done by teams of paid authors, unlike Wikipedia's volunteer model.
⚰️ "Road of death" for Russians in the Kharkiv direction, Krasne village. 22 units of equipment
📍 50.28969396799351, 36.447651981328306 [start of video]
📍 50.28969396799351, 36.447651981328306 [start of video]
🇭🇺 Orbán Opposes Ukraine’s NATO Membership at the Summit
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated at the NATO summit in Washington, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was present, that Ukraine should not join the Alliance.
Orbán attended the NATO summit following a self-proclaimed “peace mission” during which he visited Kyiv, Moscow, and Beijing without coordination with EU and NATO members.
At the NATO summit, Orbán, in line with previously reached agreements, refused to support military aid to Ukraine. He also directly stated during the meeting of leaders, where the Ukrainian president was present, that Ukraine should not become a member of the Alliance.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated at the NATO summit in Washington, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was present, that Ukraine should not join the Alliance.
Orbán attended the NATO summit following a self-proclaimed “peace mission” during which he visited Kyiv, Moscow, and Beijing without coordination with EU and NATO members.
At the NATO summit, Orbán, in line with previously reached agreements, refused to support military aid to Ukraine. He also directly stated during the meeting of leaders, where the Ukrainian president was present, that Ukraine should not become a member of the Alliance.
President Zelensky reacted to the assassination attempt on Trump in the USA.
"I am appalled to learn about the shooting of former U.S. President Donald Trump at his rally in Pennsylvania.
Such violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world. Never should violence prevail.
I am relieved to learn that Donald Trump is now safe and wish him a speedy recovery. My condolences go out to the close ones of this attack’s victim, a rally attendee.
I extend my wishes for strength to everyone who is horrified by this event. I wish America emerges stronger from this.", the president wrote on X.
"I am appalled to learn about the shooting of former U.S. President Donald Trump at his rally in Pennsylvania.
Such violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world. Never should violence prevail.
I am relieved to learn that Donald Trump is now safe and wish him a speedy recovery. My condolences go out to the close ones of this attack’s victim, a rally attendee.
I extend my wishes for strength to everyone who is horrified by this event. I wish America emerges stronger from this.", the president wrote on X.
Budanov knows about assassination attempts on Putin: there were attempts to kill him, but so far they were unsuccessful.
“There have been attempts to kill the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, but, as you can see, they have been unsuccessful so far,” said Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
He also noted that Putin has been in power for more than 20 years and that russians fear losing him because he is seen as “the guarantor of their stability in life.”
“There have been attempts to kill the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, but, as you can see, they have been unsuccessful so far,” said Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
He also noted that Putin has been in power for more than 20 years and that russians fear losing him because he is seen as “the guarantor of their stability in life.”
From ‘The Analyst’ (Military & Strategic) X: MilStratOnX
STORM SHADOW - FLIP FLOP OR SOMETHING ELSE?
As I catch up from two weeks away, the one thing the new British Labour government announced that seemed both suitably hawkish and a ‘good thing’ - was the announcement that Storm Shadow missiles can be used inside Russia proper.
It made headlines and must have been a welcome surprise for Ukraine.
As usual the Russians freaked out about it and replayed their badly FX’d
destruction of Britain by nukes video.
Then relatively quietly the permission so publicly granted, was quietly withdrawn.
There was no explanation. It seems the new Labour government was unaware until later, that the French Government has to agree as well to the use of the missile in such circumstances and it hasn’t yet done so. (The same would happen if the French wanted to give permission, they would have to ask the UK). The permission is in the purview of the French MoD, and post election, only a caretaker government is in place and is unwilling to make those decisions. It could be weeks before there’s a new government.
Some suspected that the White House may have frowned upon the idea - and it might but it’s unlikely to have forced the issue at this stage.
If the UK government wanted to give permission then it’s unlikely to have backed off so quickly without a legal reason.
There is of course the other issue. And this will have quietly raised alarms in the MoD’s of Storm Shadow /SCALP-EG users. The Russians captured a near intact missile in the last three weeks.
Either it failed or was knocked off course by a near miss. Either way the video clearly showed the inspection of the guidance system, counter measures and warhead systems.
These things get found out all the time, there’s a litany of weapons systems that have become useless in this war.
The much awaited GLSDB failed miserably and just wasn’t up to facing Russian EW.
The much vaunted Excalibur guided 155mm shell has become so hopelessly bad after months of success, that the Ukrainians have stopped using it because of Russian EW - it just won’t hit a target anymore.
Nobody wants to see Storm Shadow go the same way.
It’s entirely probable that new missiles and older ones will need new
counter measures if they are even to be used again. There’s no point in wasting them just to see them fail.
JDAM’s munitions are an example of what had been stopped from being effective and now has been returned to service with considerable effect. MLRS/HIMARS missiles have been updated and improved.
War has the ability to prove reality is not what we always wanted.
The west relies on technical superiority and technology to outperform Russian military capabilities.
What was good yesterday might not be so good today or tomorrow. It’s what you do about it and the speed you do it that makes the difference. It’s not a lesson easily learned.
Enduring war requires enduring technological change and outpacing your enemies. China is watching, Russia is learning to counteract our systems - we have to keep the edge.
Nothing we built was designed for a war this long. It’s just another aspect of fighting it that has come home to roost. Learn from it.
Slava Ukraini!🇺🇦 From ‘The Analyst’ X: MilStratOnX
STORM SHADOW - FLIP FLOP OR SOMETHING ELSE?
As I catch up from two weeks away, the one thing the new British Labour government announced that seemed both suitably hawkish and a ‘good thing’ - was the announcement that Storm Shadow missiles can be used inside Russia proper.
It made headlines and must have been a welcome surprise for Ukraine.
As usual the Russians freaked out about it and replayed their badly FX’d
destruction of Britain by nukes video.
Then relatively quietly the permission so publicly granted, was quietly withdrawn.
There was no explanation. It seems the new Labour government was unaware until later, that the French Government has to agree as well to the use of the missile in such circumstances and it hasn’t yet done so. (The same would happen if the French wanted to give permission, they would have to ask the UK). The permission is in the purview of the French MoD, and post election, only a caretaker government is in place and is unwilling to make those decisions. It could be weeks before there’s a new government.
Some suspected that the White House may have frowned upon the idea - and it might but it’s unlikely to have forced the issue at this stage.
If the UK government wanted to give permission then it’s unlikely to have backed off so quickly without a legal reason.
There is of course the other issue. And this will have quietly raised alarms in the MoD’s of Storm Shadow /SCALP-EG users. The Russians captured a near intact missile in the last three weeks.
Either it failed or was knocked off course by a near miss. Either way the video clearly showed the inspection of the guidance system, counter measures and warhead systems.
These things get found out all the time, there’s a litany of weapons systems that have become useless in this war.
The much awaited GLSDB failed miserably and just wasn’t up to facing Russian EW.
The much vaunted Excalibur guided 155mm shell has become so hopelessly bad after months of success, that the Ukrainians have stopped using it because of Russian EW - it just won’t hit a target anymore.
Nobody wants to see Storm Shadow go the same way.
It’s entirely probable that new missiles and older ones will need new
counter measures if they are even to be used again. There’s no point in wasting them just to see them fail.
JDAM’s munitions are an example of what had been stopped from being effective and now has been returned to service with considerable effect. MLRS/HIMARS missiles have been updated and improved.
War has the ability to prove reality is not what we always wanted.
The west relies on technical superiority and technology to outperform Russian military capabilities.
What was good yesterday might not be so good today or tomorrow. It’s what you do about it and the speed you do it that makes the difference. It’s not a lesson easily learned.
Enduring war requires enduring technological change and outpacing your enemies. China is watching, Russia is learning to counteract our systems - we have to keep the edge.
Nothing we built was designed for a war this long. It’s just another aspect of fighting it that has come home to roost. Learn from it.
Slava Ukraini!🇺🇦 From ‘The Analyst’ X: MilStratOnX
Artillery of the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade is operating in the Toretsk direction.
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A video appeared on ruzzian Telegram channels of a KamAZ truck with an old 1940s M-46 gun crushing a passenger car near Novocherkassk (ruzzia).
- Time travel can have dangerous consequences!
- Time travel can have dangerous consequences!
Oleg Ufimtsev died in Kyiv on July 8, 2024 from a rocket attack.
Oleg was 50 years old. Originally from the Zaporizhzhia region. He served as the commander of the security unit of the territorial administration of the Judicial Security Service in the Zaporizhzhia region. He had the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He also worked in the internal affairs bodies of Ukraine. Retired from the position of head of the Berdyansk Department of the State Security Service. After the Russian occupation of his hometown, he lived with his family in Kyiv.
Oleh is survived by his wife, sons and other relatives.
Oleg was 50 years old. Originally from the Zaporizhzhia region. He served as the commander of the security unit of the territorial administration of the Judicial Security Service in the Zaporizhzhia region. He had the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He also worked in the internal affairs bodies of Ukraine. Retired from the position of head of the Berdyansk Department of the State Security Service. After the Russian occupation of his hometown, he lived with his family in Kyiv.
Oleh is survived by his wife, sons and other relatives.