[WonderMomma]

NO MEDIA

#blacksea

"NYT about how, against the background of the blockade of our border by Poland, the export of goods through the Black Sea has significantly increased (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/20/w...ost-trade.html) .

ℹ️ More than 10 million tons of cargo have already been exported through the sea corridor recently created by Ukraine. Half is agricultural products.

ℹ️ The contrast between the success of the Black Sea route and the disruptions on the Polish border is a notable development since the start of the war, when companies wary of shipping goods across the waters of the Black Sea turned to overland routes. But Ukraine's ability to fend off Russian naval attacks and political upheaval on its western borders may now change that calculus.

ℹ️ The Black Sea Corridor already has significant positive effects on the Ukrainian economy and is likely to become one of the key drivers of growth next year. Trade through the corridor more than compensated for the economic losses caused by the border blockade from the Polish side. Total exports of Ukraine increased by almost 500 million dollars from October to November (a month after the beginning of the blockade).

ℹ️ However, disruptions at the border dealt a heavy blow to Ukraine's economy. Volodymyr Balin, vice-president of the Association of International Automobile Carriers of Ukraine, reported that the country's economy "lost more than 1 billion euros."

ℹ️ The Polish and Ukrainian governments hold regular talks to resolve the issue, and Donald Tusk, the newly elected Polish prime minister, has promised to end the blockade. But the dispute has been ongoing for weeks, and Ukrainian officials said Wednesday that more than 5,000 vehicles were still queuing to enter Ukraine through four blocked checkpoints.

ℹ️ The blockade not only made trade difficult, but also the delivery of goods for military purposes.

ℹ️ Analysts say Black Sea trade could rise to 7 million tonnes a month, from a projected 5 million tonnes in December, as exports of high-value products could be partly redirected from blocked roads to seaports.

ℹ️ After the deal collapsed, Russia threatened to treat any vessel approaching a Ukrainian port as a potential military threat. Since then, it has repeatedly attacked the Ukrainian port infrastructure. At the same time, the Ukrainian army was able to secure a new route through a series of ambitious military operations. The Government of Ukraine has also launched an insurance program to ensure affordable coverage for vessels sailing through the corridor. The route is currently a success.

ℹ️ Kubrakov, the infrastructure minister, said 337 ships have already passed through the corridor since its launch (about 112 ships per month). This is more than the number of ships that sailed the Black Sea under the "grain agreement". Ukraine already exports 3.2 million tons of products every month through the sea corridor (according to the "agreement" it was 2.7 million tons)"

===

"Head of the SBU Malyuk spoke (https://www.politico.eu/article/russ...-vasyl-malyuk/) a little with Politico.

ℹ️ Ukrainian special services intend to step up intelligence operations and carry out sabotage in the depths of Russian-controlled territory next year in order to bring the war as close as possible to the Kremlin.

We cannot divulge our plans. They must remain a shock to the enemy. We are preparing surprises. Occupiers must understand that they will not be able to hide. We will find the enemy everywhere.

ℹ️ Head of SBU Malyuk hints that the target of the operations will be logistics facilities and military equipment on the occupied Ukrainian territory.

SBU carries out targeted point strikes. We stick the enemy's needle straight into the heart. Each of our special operations pursues a specific goal and produces its own result. All this in the complex complicates the possibilities of the Russian Federation to wage war and brings our victory closer

ℹ️ Malyuk noted that Kyiv carefully weighs its goals before striking - this is an attempt to stay within the framework of the rules of warfare, unlike Russia, which fires missiles, artillery and drones at both military and civilian targets.

When planning and preparing its special operations, the SBU carefully selects its targets. We work on military facilities or on those that the enemy uses to carry out their military tasks. We act entirely in accordance with the norms of international law

ℹ️ When it comes to planning something on the territory of Russia, the SBU only focuses on objects that are used for military purposes, such as logistical corridors for the supply of weapons - like the railway tunnel in Siberia, where there were two explosions (the SBU did not claim responsibility), as well as warships, military bases and other similar objects."

[WonderMomma]

I keep seeing more and more about Ukraine's growing defense industry. Yet another evolution in this war.

"The Director of "Ukrainian Armored Vehicles" (UB) Vladyslav Belbas in an interview (https://www.epravda.com.ua/publicati.../12/21/707951/) with the EP talked about how the work of the largest private arms manufacturer in Ukraine is organized.

ℹ️ About the number of Novator armored vehicles produced.

Several hundred. Now we are seriously increasing production. Only the Border Service does not order from us from state departments. All other departments buy and are very satisfied. We produce as much in a month as we used to do in a year. Recently, we introduced "Novator-2", which is capable of carrying a crew of ten soldiers. We hope that in a few months they will be supplied by the Ministry of Defense.

ℹ️ Are Ukrainian manufacturers able to meet the needs of the Armed Forces in armored vehicles on their own?

Absolutely capable. Our machine is 20-30% cheaper than foreign competitors. It is short-sighted to take money abroad today, buying similar more expensive cars.

ℹ️ About how the manufactured armored vehicles will be protected from Russian FPVs

Very simple - dome systems of electronic warfare. We have just accepted the company "Kwertus" into the association, which develops such individual WB systems. They are relatively inexpensive.

ℹ️ About the creation of a new domestic BMP

We are currently working on the possibility of localization of the ASCOD BMP, under license. This is a machine that was once developed to the order of several European Union states. For now, there should be a purchase of a test batch, and then negotiations on the localization of production will begin.

ℹ️ About the domestic 120-mm mortar manufactured by UB

Everything in our mortar is Ukrainian, except for the NATO sight - we import it. Now we completely cover the need of the Ministry of Defense and additionally supply them to charitable foundations and military units. We can say that we have reached the peak of production capacity for these mortars.

ℹ️ How UB established the production of projectiles

I had to assemble the chain according to competencies. One state-owned company makes equipment, we are engaged in metalworking. We buy something on the world market. Currently, Ukrainian components in our shells are about 30%. However, it will not be possible to quickly increase one's own production of shells. Ammunition equipment has a two-year wait if done correctly.

ℹ️ Why does the Armed Forces need Ukrainian weapons?

Ukraine needs to reduce the logistical burden for repairing equipment. It should be repaired on the front line, 100 kilometers from the front line, and not transported to Poland: three days one way, a month for repairs, three days the other way. We have brought a lot of Western equipment and know about the terms of its repair.

This is not what we need to win. We need to stock up on spare parts, train maintenance people, and keep our equipment in operational condition with a short logistics arm. And develop what we can do. Then it will give its result."

===


The Canadian manufacturer of armored vehicles Roshel has already delivered (https://defence-blog.com/roshel-deli...le-to-ukraine/) the 1,000th Senator armored car to Ukraine for the needs of the Defense Forces.

The event was celebrated in a special way, as you can see in the photo.

ℹ️ On this car, Zaluzhny rides along the front line "

[WonderMomma]

"The NYT publishes the best photos of 2023. I took those related to Ukraine.

✅ Bakhmut. Evacuation of a wounded Ukrainian soldier after artillery fire.

✅ View of Bakhmut.

✅ Ukrainian soldiers rest after the battle. They just liberated the village of Blagodatne (Donetsk region)

✅ Flooding after the explosion of the Kakhovskaya dam.

✅ Zaporozhye direction. Launching a reconnaissance drone.

✅ From the cockpit of the pilot of the 18th brigade of army aviation named after Sikorsky

✅ Russian prisoners

"

[kellyhound]

In the Tauri direction, the enemy carried out 17 airstrikes, 1 missile strike, carried out 61 combat engagements and carried out 1,056 artillery barrages

Ukr. soldiers are firmly holding the defense in the Avdiiv and Marin areas.

The total losses of the enemy in the operational zone of the Tavria air defense system amounted to 528 people.

15 units of military equipment were destroyed. In particular, 1 tank, 4 BBM, 2 artillery systems, 2 unmanned aerial vehicles, 4 cars, 2 units of special equipment. Another 14 enemy vehicles were damaged.

[depraved1]

Go Ukraine!

[WonderMomma]

No Media:

"President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that the Dutch government has started preparations for the transfer of the first 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

ℹ️ Against the background of the downing of 3 Su-34s, the news looks especially beautiful."

====


"Ukrainian UGV Sirko-S1 is being tested in temperature conditions down to -6°C with a maximum load of 200 kg.

This is a universal ground robot. His task is to help the military transport cargo, evacuate the wounded and conduct reconnaissance."

[WonderMomma]

"Issued to our soldier is a domestic UAR-15 rifle, made in 2023."

Article I found from May 2022. I'm just including the first paragraph of it. Visit the page directly to read the whole thing.


"The new addition to the small arms inventory of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is a UAR-15 (Zbroyar Z-15), which, as you can easily guess, is one of the many clones of the AR-15. As the war in Ukraine continues, the lack of weapons forced local arms manufacturers to produce new weapons and equipment to help Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Zbroyar LLC answered the call."

#smallarms

[Roosta]

Hmmm, nice lines, does it come in black

[WonderMomma]

It's reported that F16s may be delivered to Ukraine any day now. This is probably the single most anticipated possibility yet. For me, at least. I know what I want to see happen but alas, I will just wait and see what happens.

Also, this song makes me want to go out and beat someone up.

EDIT: added a second video

#f16

[Guns N' Coffee]

Originally Posted by Roosta ↗

Hmmm, nice lines, does it come in black

This could be a fundraising opportunity