[Roosta]

Originally Posted by WonderMomma ↗

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65955365 (this is all over the place, it's the first link I found)

Ukraine finds British WW2 Hurricane planes outside Kyiv
2 July 2023

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The rusting remains of eight British Hurricane fighter planes dating back to World War Two have been found buried in a forest in Ukraine.

The aircraft were sent to the Soviet Union by Britain after Nazi Germany invaded the country in 1941.

They were part of a package of allied military support for the USSR, paid for by the United States under the so-called Lend-Lease scheme.

Similar legislation is being used by the US government today to send military aid to Ukraine as it seeks to expel Russian forces from its country.

Aviation experts say this is the first time the remains of so many Hurricanes have been found in Ukraine.

"It is very rare to find this aircraft in Ukraine," says Oleks Shtan, a former airline pilot who is leading the excavation. "It's very important for our aviation history because no Lend-Lease aircraft have been found here before."

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The Hawker Hurricane was the workhorse of the Battle of Britain - the air campaign of 1940 when the Royal Air Force (RAF) defeated German attempts to invade the UK. Although its role has often been overshadowed by the newer and more adaptable Spitfire plane, the Hurricane actually shot down more than half of all enemy aircraft during the battle.

"The Hurricane was a strong, easy to fly machine," Mr Shtan says. "It was stable as a gun platform and suitable for inexperienced pilots. A reliable aircraft."

In total, about 3,000 Hurricanes were sent to the USSR between 1941 and 1944 to support the Soviet war effort. Most were either destroyed in combat or dismantled later for parts.

But some Hurricanes were deliberately broken up and buried after the war so the Soviets did not have to pay back the United States. Under the Lend-Lease legislation, the USSR was required to pay for any donated military equipment that remained intact after hostilities ended.

This was the fate of the eight Hurricanes found buried in woodland south of Kyiv - now the capital of independent Ukraine, but until 1991 part of the USSR.

Attachment 1192602

They had been stripped of their instruments, radios, machine guns and any useful scrap metal. They were then dragged by tractors from a nearby airfield, broken up and dropped without ceremony into a shallow ravine. It is thought they were then covered with earth by bulldozers.

The remains were discovered recently after an unexploded bomb dating from the war was found nearby. The rest of the ravine was checked using metal detectors and the Hurricanes were found.

The National Aviation Museum of Ukraine is now in the process of painstakingly excavating the site by hand. Staff there aim to identify as much of the aircraft as possible so they can be reassembled and put on display.

Valerii Romanenko, head of research at the museum, says the Hurricanes played an important part in Ukraine's history.

"The Hurricanes are a symbol of British assistance during the years of the Second World War, just as we are very appreciative of British assistance nowadays," he says. "The UK is one of the largest suppliers of military equipment to our country now."

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"In 1941 Britain was the first who supplied fighter aircraft to the Soviet Union in mass scale. Now the UK is the first country which gives Storm Shadow cruise missiles to our armed forces."

It is thought there are just 14 restored Hurricanes able to fly in the world today.

After the German invasion, the USSR lost many warplanes and was in desperate need of fighter aircraft. Initially several RAF Hurricane squadrons were sent to the Arctic to help.

But soon the British pilots left and the aircraft were taken over by Soviet airmen. Records show that many disliked the Hurricane, considering it under-powered, under-armed and under-protected.

By the end of the war it was considered obsolete and was used mainly for air defence work. The eight Hurricanes found south of Kyiv were used to defend major transport hubs - especially railway stations and junctions.



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Beautiful warbird indeed.

Right up there with the Spitfire & P51 Mustang. They played a pivotal role in the "Battle of Britan" & remain a leader in piston driven aviation history.

[Roosta]

Originally Posted by WonderMomma ↗

"“We are stunned by the barbarity of a country that launches missiles into a place where dozens of civilians are talking and eating. What we didn’t expect to happen, happened. I can hardly sleep and I feel safer with every mile I put between myself and the hell created by the Russians in Donetsk… This mission of solidarity has suddenly become a tragic journey, and our colleague – Victoria Amelina – is battling for her life. We’re sad and devastated.”

Colombian novelist Héctor Abad Faciolince shared about surviving the Russian attack on Kramatorsk. The article was written while Viktoria Amelina was still fighting for her life in hospital. "
Attachment 1192709

Viktoria Amelina died in hospital on 1 July.
"Viktoria Amelina, Ukrainian writer, died on 1st July after a Russian missile strike on Kramatorsk on 27 June.

She was in the pizzeria with a delegation from Colombia who came to support Ukraine.

Viktoria documented Russian war crimes on de-occupied Ukrainian territories. She was working on a book about seeing the war through women's eyes.

A great loss. Deepest condolences to Viktoria's family."
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RIP.

Originally Posted by WonderMomma ↗

100% of Leopard tanks from Poland and Portugal are gone. "Practically". No idea what kind of time frame he's talking about.

"Shoigu claims that Russian forces destroyed 15 Ukrainian planes, 920 armored vehicles and 16 Leopard tanks.

Did he forget to mention the legions of battlefield mosquitoes defeated by Russian troops?

Oh, and where is Konashenkov?"

Originally Posted by yourmomsburgerplace ↗

Perfect For Himars Strike

I was just thinking about smokers in the camp & surly there must be a few.

[WonderMomma]

Wasn't sure where to put this.

"A movie about ecocide in numbers

By the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine"

[WonderMomma]

"Ukrainian version of the "minigun", created from four AK-74s combined with each other" (looks like more than four to me)

[WonderMomma]

Posted by the General Staff of the AFU today regarding ZNPP and a possible false flag attack on the plant by Russia.

[Guns N' Coffee]

Originally Posted by WonderMomma ↗

"Ukrainian version of the "minigun", created from four AK-74s combined with each other" (looks like more than four to me)

New Ukrainian Anti-Drone Gun

[WonderMomma]

"Russian telegram channels say the ZSU are not abandoning attempts to flank Bakhmut from two sides and are succeeding, the situation is becoming more difficult after Wagner forces were replaced by Russian regular forces."





"Ukrainian Defenders advanced 2 kilometers deep into the Russian defense on Tavria direction.

Ukrainian Defense Forces are settling on liberated land - spokesperson of the united press center of Tavria direction Defense Forces Valery Shershen. Russians resist but Ukrainian Army systematically puts pressure on certain frontline parts.

Currently the Ukrainian Army is mostly concentrated on exhausting the Russian army, not advancing - Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

According to Danilov, currently the combat for exhaustion is equal to combat for kilometers. The more are destroyed, the more is liberated.

In the steppes and fields of Ukraine where active combat takes place the weather is very hot these days - about 35-40 degrees Celsius. Imagine how our Warriors feel in full combat gear."

[WonderMomma]

"Ukraine's northern borders will be reinforced with both personnel and military equipment due to the latest developments around Zaporizhzhia NPP - commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhiy Naev.

"Work in this direction has not stopped since the enemy was kicked out of the north and continues round the clock. Antitank obstacles are being constructed, minefields are being arranged, and the whole defense line is being strengthened. Our reconnaissance work is rather effective. We have a good understanding of the enemy and have a clear picture of their plans," Nayev said."

[Roosta]

Originally Posted by WonderMomma ↗

Wasn't sure where to put this.

"A movie about ecocide in numbers

By the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine"

Rather scary to think about let alone russia threatening the whole world by talking about nukes.

I wonder if the pro ruskies here will still support the russian agenda if they actually use nukes.

I wonder what the rhetoric will be then while they suffer from fallout.

[WonderMomma]

The Russian army is bringing its most modern Armata T54/55 tank to the borders of Ukraine.

#t5455