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September 25, 2023 - NATO: Italy Executed First Scramble Out Of Poland Intercepting Russian Aircraft. The F35s intercepted 2 Russian Su-30s which were not on a flight plan & had no contact with Air Traffic control. Read more
September 24, 2023 - Russian Foreign Minister Says West Directly Fighting Russia. Lavrov: "You can call it anything you want, but they are fighting with us, they are straight-up fighting with us". Read more
September 22, 2023 - DoD Announces $325 Million In Security Assistance For Ukraine. DoD: The package includes additional AIM-9M missiles and other air defense equipment, artillery rounds, including over 3 million small arms ammunition, antitank weapons, light tactical vehicles. Read more
September 20, 2023 - Kremlin: Telephone Conversation Between Russian President And Armenian Prime Minister. Russia: "At the initiative of the Armenian side, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan". Read more
September 20, 2023 - Ceasefire Reached In Azerbaijan After "Anti-Terrorist Operation" On Separatist Armenian Forces. Nearly 100 people had been killed in the fighting, and hundreds more wounded. Read more
September 18, 2023 - US Foreign Military Sales To Canada, Poland, Korea Totaling $5.7 Billion. To Korea: F-35 aircraft & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, Poland: F-16 sustainment, and related equipment, Canada: MQ-9B munitions and other integrated systems. Read more
September 14, 2023 - NATO Surveillance Drone Conducts First Mission Over Finland. "The unmanned aircraft, traveling at high altitudes above Allies’ territories and in international airspace, collected data for Allies to support their collective deterrence and defense". Read more
September 11, 2023 - Six New Members To Join BRICS, Move Towards Establishing A Single Currency. Countries set to join the economic alliance: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which would take effect January 1st, 2024. Read more
September 7, 2023 - Russia Responds To US Decision To Send Depleted Uranium Shells To Ukraine. Although mainstream reports that Russian claims about depleted uranium shells are “disinformation,” statements by the U.S. government on the dangers are mixed: Read more
September 7, 2023 - Biden Administration Announces $600 Million In Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine. The package includes: 20 Mi-17 helicopters, 31 Abrams tanks, 45 T-72B tanks, 38 HMARS, 198 155mm Howitzers, Ground-Launched small-diameter bomb launchers, a Patriot Air Defense System, and more: Read more
September 6, 2023 - Timeline of United States security assistance to Ukraine: In total, the United States has committed more than $43.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, and $66.6 Billion in total aid since the beginning of the Biden Administration. Read more
September 6, 2023 - DoD: $175 Million In Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine, Including Depleted Uranium Rounds. The package “includes additional air defense equipment; artillery munitions; anti-tank weapons, including depleted uranium rounds for previously committed Abrams tanks; and other equipment”. Read more
September 5, 2023 - After a March funding request to the U.S. Congress, and news reports indicated that the United States may be planning to store nuclear warheads in England, Russia called the possibility an "escalation". Read more
September 4, 2023 - IAEA: No Mines Or Explosives Found On ZNPP Unit 3 And 4 Reactor Building Rooftops. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that they gained "unimpeded" access to the rooftops of two reactor units, but that the team heard a series of detonations the night before. Read more
September 4, 2023 - Ukraine claims Russian drones detonated in NATO member Romania, says they have photographic evidence. Romania denies claim. Romanian Ministry of Defense: The Ministry of National Defense firmly denies the information circulating in the public space with regard to a so-called situation that occurred". Read more
September 1, 2023 - Belarus has claimed that a Polish military helicopter violated the Belarusian border. Poland has denied the claims and said that there was no such violation. Read more
September 1, 2023 - Russia: Sarmat "Satan II" MERV Equipped ICBM Put On Combat Duty. Russia has put the new generation of Sarmat "Satan II" intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) systems into combat duty. Read more
August 30, 2023 - Biden Administration Announces $250 Million In Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine. This announcement is the Biden Administration's forty-fifth tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. Read more
August 30, 2023 - Russian state media has reported a fixed wing unmanned drone that it says was Ukrainian, and claimed it was intercepted above Moscow, citing the country's Ministry of Defense. Read more
August 30, 2023 - Russian state media is reporting that a "swarm" of unmanned drones attacked an airport in Pskov, Russia located between 10 and 20 miles from the Estonian border. We've deemed claims by some OSINT accounts that the attack came from the Estonian border as unsubstantiated. Russian media claims the drones were Ukrainian. Read more
August 29, 2023 - Global Wildfire Update: North American Wildfire Smoke Reaching Europe. Wildfires continue to burn across the world. Read more
August 24, 2023 - U.S. Will Train Ukrainian F-16 Pilots, Ground Crews, DoD Holds Press Briefing. DoD: The U.S.-led training is "in support of the international effort to develop and strengthen Ukraine's long-term defenses". Read more
August 24, 2023 - DoD: Prigozhin Assessed To Have Died In The Plane Crash Yesterday. DoD: Media reports that the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile are "inaccurate", have no information that suggests it was a surface-to-air missile. Read more
August 23, 2023 - Russia: Wagner Leader Dies After Passenger Plane Crashes. Prigozhin's telegram channel posted a photo of the wreckage highlighting places where there were holes in the metal. Read more
August 23, 2023 - United States Renews Do Not Travel Alert For Ukraine. Event: The U.S. Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens do not travel to Ukraine. Updated: August 22, 2023. Read more
August 22, 2023 - DoD: U.S. Open to Training Ukrainian F-16 Pilots if Needed, Hawaii Update. DoD: Last week, the U.S. signaled its willingness to approve the third-party transfer of U.S.- made F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. Read more
August 22, 2023 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Poland of AH-64E Apache Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $12.0 billion. Read more
August 21, 2023 - US Issues Travel Alert To Belarus, Moscow: Attack On Belarus Is Attack On Russia. Russian ambassador to Belarus said that if Belarus is attacked, Russia will respond "with all our weaponry". Read more
August 21, 2023 - Global Wildfire Locations For Last 24 Hours - August 21st, 2023. Fires are still burning across the globe, maps included below show wildfires in Africa, Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and North America. There are relatively few fires in Russia. Read more
August 21, 2023 - Security Alert – U.S. Embassy Minsk, Belarus for August 21st, 2023. On August 18th, border crossings at Tverecius, Vidzy and Sumskas, and Losha were closed. Read more
August 20, 2023 - Russia's Luna-25 Crashes Into Moon. The Russian moon lander was scheduled to land on the moon on August 21st, but instead spun out of control and crashed into the moon. Read more
August 17, 2023 - The United States approves Denmark and the Netherlands sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine after the Ukrainian pilots are finished training for the aircraft. Read more
August 17, 2023 - DoD: General Says Deterring Two 'Near Peer' Competitors Is Complex. Department of Defense: U.S. Strategic Command is focusing on extended deterrence during a time when the country faces two near-peer rivals. Read more
August 17, 2023 - US Approves Arrow 3 Defense System To Germany. The Arrow 3 weapons system is a major part of Israel's multilayered defense array. This array is based on four layers; Iron Dome and David's Sling, and the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems. Read more
August 14, 2023 - Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine. "It includes additional air defense munitions, artillery and tank ammunition, anti-armor weapons, and other equipment".Read more
August 14, 2023 - British RAF Typhoon jets intercept Russian bombers flying north of Scotland. "Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots launched Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon fighters to intercept two Russian long-range maritime patrol bombers".Read more
August 13, 2023 - Russia Says Its Black Sea Patrol Ship Fired Warning Shots At Palau Cargo Ship. The Russian Ministry of Defense has reported that one of its patrol ships belonging to the Black Sea Fleet fired warning shots at a Palau flagged cargo vessel.Read more
August 13, 2023 - Poland Deploys Water Cannons To Border After Attack By Group Of 40 Foreigners. Polish Border Guard: "TAJFUN is a modern specialist vehicle with increased resistance to impact with blunt or sharp objects and to open fire, equipped with 2 water cannons".Read more
August 13, 2023 - Poland: Stationing Troops On Border With Belarus Not A Hostile Action, But Deterrence. Poland had decided to beef up security at its border with Belarus, stationing up to 10,000 soldiers at the border with Belarus after two Belarusian military helicopters entered Polish airspace last week. Read more
August 11, 2023 - International Space Race To Moon's South Pole Begins. NASA administrator: The Moon's South Pole may become another "South China Sea" with China staking claims and telling other countries to "stay out" if they end up getting there first. Read more
August 11, 2023 - Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant's Reactor 4 Switched From Hot Shutdown To Cold After Water Leak Detected. IAEA and Ukrainian state energy company Energoatom: "There was no radiological release to the environment". Read more
August 11, 2023 - Poland To Send Up To 10,000 Soldiers To Belarusian Border. The additional soldiers come as Poland and Latvia have been beefing up security along the Belarusian border in July and August. Read more
August 10, 2023 - Russian has reported that air defenses shot down two "strike drones" targeting Moscow, citing a statement by the Russian Capital's Mayor. Read more
August 5, 2023 - Lithuania has stripped the permanent residency status of 1,164 citizens of Russia and Belarus, declaring them a security risk, according to the Lithuanian Migration Department. Read more
August 2, 2023 - White House Responds To Poland's Claim That Wagner Forces Arrived At The Suwalki Gap. Poland had announced that 1,000 Polish troops would be deployed at its border with Belarus in response to said reports about Wagner soldiers closing in on Poland. Read more
August 1st, 2023 - Polish Ministry of Defense Regarding Situation At Poland's Border With Belarus: "August 1, 2023, there was a violation of Polish airspace by two Belarusian helicopters that were training near the border". Read more
July 31, 2023 - Poland: Wagner Soldiers Moving Close To Polish Border, Suwałki Gap. A Russian lawmaker had earlier this month also claimed Wagner forces were sent to Belarus to train Belarusian soldiers for an attack on Poland and a potential seizure of the Suwałki Gap. Read more
July 28, 2023 - Russia: US Coalition MQ-9 UAV "Dangerously Approached" Russian Su-34 Military Aircraft. A Russian Rear Admiral said a US-led coalition MQ-9 UAV "once again" dangerously approached the Russian aircraft at an altitude of around 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) near Nafla in the Raqqa province. Read more
July 25, 2023 - The Department of Defense has announced an additional $400 million in security assistance to Ukraine, making it the 43rd drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August of 2021. Read more
July 25, 2023 - US Air Force Central: "On July 23 Russian military aircraft deployed flares, damaging a U.S. MQ-9 while conducting a defeat-ISIS mission". Read more
July 24, 2023 - The IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that experts have observed directional anti-personnel mines "on the periphery of the site of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant". The agency also noted the planned transition of reactor 4 from cold to hot shutdown. Read more
July 24, 2023 - Russian Foreign Ministry statement on the Ukrainian attacks on Moscow and Crimea. The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement on the attacks that said Russia reserves the right to take “tough retaliatory measures” in response to what it called “terrorist methods” by Ukraine meant to “intimidate the civilian population”. Read more
July 24, 2023 - Russia: Ukrainian Drone Attack On Moscow "International Terrorism". Buildings that were damaged were located only around 200 yards away from the Russian Defense Ministry building. Read more
July 20, 2023 - Biden Administration Announces Additional $1.3 Billion In Security Assistance for Ukraine. Department of Defense: Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced a new $1.3 billion security assistance package to support Ukraine's battlefield needs and underscore unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine. Read more
July 18, 2023 - Britain Rejects Russia's Claims It Was Involved In Attack On Kerch Strait Bridge. A statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the attack, which occurred in the “early hours” of July 17th involved the use of two Ukrainian “water-surface drones”. Read more
July 15, 2023 - The United Nations has claimed that the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched by North Korea on Wednesday, July 12th landed in Russia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which has led Russia to investigate the site where the ICBM crashed down. Read more
July 15, 2023 - One person was killed after what Rosotom called the "depressurization of a cylinder with depleted uranium hexafluoride". Read more
July 14, 2023 - U.S. President Joe Biden is mobilizing 3,000 reserve soldiers to active duty in Europe in order to support U.S. soldiers currently deployed there for Operation Atlantic Resolve. Read more
July 14, 2023 - Russia Says It Will Treat F-16s To Ukraine As Nuclear Threat. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow cannot ignore the nuclear capability of US-designed F-16 fighter jets, and how the aircraft could carry nuclear weapons. Read more
July 11, 2023 - North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has announced that the alliance is putting 300,000 troops on high readiness. Read more
July 10, 2023 - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says that he will back Sweden joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if the European Union resumes talks to pave the way for Turkey to join the EU. Read more
July 8, 2023 - Russia Responds To US Decision To Send Cluster Munitions To Ukraine. In 2022, in response to reports Russia had used cluster bombs in Ukraine, the White House said the usage of cluster munitions would "potentially" be a war crime. Read more
July 8, 2023 - NATO Chief Details Plans for Summit To Discuss Ukraine's Membership In NATO. Discussions will be held to address: a multiyear program of assistance to Ukraine, the establishment of the NATO-Ukraine Council, and Ukraine's membership in NATO. Read more
July 8, 2023 - Department of Defense: Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said today that the U.S. mission to defeat ISIS remains undeterred by Russia's recent harassment of U.S. aircraft operating in Syria after third day of Russian "unprofessional behavior" and harassment by Russia over Syria. Read more
July 7, 2023 - IAEA Says No Evidence Nuclear Power Plant In Ukraine Has Been Mined With Explosives. IAEA: The nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is "extremely fragile". Read more
July 1, 2023 - Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Poland is now ready to join NATO’s nuclear sharing program which would allow NATO-allied countries to deploy nuclear warheads on its territory, in light of Russia’s deployment of tactical nuclear warheads in Belarus, which borders Poland. Read more
July 1, 2023 - CIA Director William Burns made a “secret” visit to Ukraine in June and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and intel officials as Ukraine’s counteroffensive fails to significantly break the Russian lines. The United States is considering providing Ukraine with cluster munitions. Read more
June 26, 2023 - Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has posted an 11-minute-long audio clip on social media after disappearing on June 24th after stating that he was headed to Belarus. Read more
June 24, 2023 - The Ukrainian-Crimean Tatar partisan movement Atesh claims that the Wagner PMC is preparing to seize warehouses where Russia’s nuclear weapons are stored and have its eyes set on the warehouse known as 375 Object C. Read more
June 24, 2023 - Russia has accused the head of the Wagner PMC of rebellion. Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to crush, what he called an armed mutiny as Russian helicopters attacked a convoy of Wagner mercenaries advancing toward Moscow, Russia. Read more
June 22, 2023 - American Bombers In Sweden For First Time In Modern History. Swedish Armed forces: "On Monday, June 19, two American B-1B Lancers from the Bomber Task Force (BTF) landed at Luleå-Kallax airport to base Norrbotten's air fleet, F 21". Read more
June 20, 2023 - Russia: Nukes In Belarus "Indefinitely" Unless US Removes Its Nuclear Weapons From Europe. U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday said that the threat of Russian President Vladimir Putin using a tactical nuclear weapon is "real" but "absolutely irresponsible". Read more
June 19, 2023 - Swedish Defense Ministry: "An armed attack [by Russia] against Sweden cannot be ruled out. It also cannot be ruled out that military means of force or further threats of such may be used against Sweden". Read more
June 14, 2023 - U.S. Central Command: U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors deployed to U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility as part of a multifaceted show of U.S. support and capability in the wake of increasingly unsafe and unprofessional behavior by Russian aircraft in the region. Read more
June 14, 2023 - British Royal Air force: "RAF Typhoons from 140 EAW in Estonia were scrambled this afternoon to intercept a Russian Air Force IL-20 COOT A and 2x Su-27 FLANKER B flying close to NATO airspace. The Russian aircraft failed to comply with international norms by not liaising with relevant FIRs." Read more
June 13, 2023 - Russia Says Modification Can Enable The Jets To Be Equipped With Nuclear Warheads, accuses the West of seeking to escalate tensions. Read more
June 12, 2023 - As geopolitical tensions continue to mount across the world, global powers are beginning to increase their usable nuclear warheads, with China leading the way. Read more
June 9, 2023 - Russian President Vladimir Putin told Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that Russia will begin deploying tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus in July after storage facilities are readied. Read more
June 7, 2023 - Russia: 2,700 Houses Flooded, 1,300 Evacuated Over Dam Collapse. Ukraine: Over 1560 Evacuated. Russia and Ukraine both blame each other for the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Russia claims it was done by Ukraine with an Olkha MLRS. Both countries say it was an act of terrorism. Read more
June 7, 2023 - Chinese and Russian bombers both flew together over waters surrounding the Japanese islands, causing the Japanese Self-Defense Force to scramble fighter jets in response, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense. Read more
June 5, 2023 - Russia reported a "planned flight" over the Barents and Norwegian seas for around five hours. A report by The Barents Observer cited Spokesperson Marius Vågenes Villanger from the Norwegian Armed Forces as saying NATO F-35 fighter aircraft were scrambled between 8:30 and 11:00 Norwegian time to meet "a group of Russian military planes" flying west from the Kola Peninsula. Read more
June 5, 2023 - Up to 40 Baltic Fleet vessels and over 3,500 Russian soldiers were deployed to Kaliningrad for exercises, according to Russian state news, citing the Ministry of Defense. Read more
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NATO: Italy Executed First Scramble Out Of Poland Intercepting Russian Aircraft - The F35s intercepted 2 Russian Su-30s which were not on a flight plan & had no contact with Air Traffic control.
NATO Air Command: "On the 21 Sep [Italy] execute their first scramble out of Malbork Air Base, [Poland] under NATO's Air Policing Mission. The F35s intercepted 2 Russian Su-30s which were not on a flight plan & had no contact with Air Traffic control".
Italian F-35 Conducts First Launch Out of Malbork Air Base Under NATO-enhanced Air Policing: Read More.
Russian Foreign Minister Says West Directly Fighting Russia - Lavrov: "You can call it anything you want, but they are fighting with us, they are straight-up fighting with us".
MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that the West is "straight-up" fighting with Russia using the "hands and bodies" of the Ukrainian people, also pointing out Western mercenaries fighting for Ukraine.
At a U.N. news conference, Lavrov said, "You can call it anything you want, but they are fighting with us, they are straight-up fighting with us. We call it a hybrid war, but that doesn't change things". Lavrov: West Is "De Facto Fighting Against Us": Read More.
DoD Announces $325 Million In Security Assistance For Ukraine - DoD: The package includes additional AIM-9M missiles and other air defense equipment, artillery rounds, including over 3 million small arms ammunition, antitank weapons, light tactical vehicles.
WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense has announced another $325 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine.
The package includes additional AIM-9M missiles and other air defense equipment, artillery rounds, including over 3 million small arms ammunition, antitank weapons, light tactical vehicles, and other equipment.
According to the Department of Defense, this announcement is the Biden Administration's forty-seventh tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. The capabilities in this package, valued at up to $325 million, include: Read More.
Kremlin: Telephone Conversation Between Russian President And Armenian Prime Minister - Russia: "At the initiative of the Armenian side, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan".
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (translated): "At the initiative of the Armenian side, a telephone conversation took place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. What Was Discussed Between The Russian President And Armenian Prime Minister: Read More.
Ceasefire Reached In Azerbaijan After "Anti-Terrorist Operation" On Separatist Armenian Forces - Nearly 100 people had been killed in the fighting, and hundreds more wounded.
BAKU - One day after Azerbaijan carried out what it called an "anti-terrorist" operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian separatists surrendered and agreed to a ceasefire under a "proposal" by Russian peacekeeping forces, according to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. Nearly 100 Dead, Hundreds Wounded. More About The Ceasefire Agreement: Read More.
US Foreign Military Sales To Canada, Poland, Korea Totaling $5.7 Billion - U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency: U.S. Foreign military sales to Poland, Korea, and Canada total $5.7 billion. To Korea: F-35 aircraft & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, Poland: F-16 sustainment, and related equipment, Canada: MQ-9B munitions and other integrated systems.
More About The Foreign Military Sales To Canada, Poland, and South Korea: Read More.
NATO Surveillance Drone Conducts First Mission Over Finland - The unmanned aircraft, traveling at high altitudes above Allies’ territories and in international airspace, collected data for Allies to support their collective deterrence and defense.
RAMSTEIN, Germany - On September 13, 2023, a NATO surveillance drone concluded a flight over Finland, the Alliance’s newest member.
The unmanned aircraft, traveling at high altitudes above Allies’ territories and in international airspace, collected data for Allies to support their collective deterrence and defense.
This mission was the first time a NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Force RQ-4D drone flew over Finland. NATO Air Force Stepping Up Reconnaissance Missions In Wake Of Russia’s War On Ukraine: Read More
Six New Members To Join BRICS, Move Towards Establishing A Single Currency - Countries set to join the economic alliance: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which would take effect January 1st, 2024.
JOHANNESBURG - After six new members were announced to be added to BRICS, Russia says that the emerging economic Bloc is moving towards establishing a single currency, adding that it will be a "long and difficult process" to get there.
According to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last month, the BRICS members decided to invite the following countries to join the economic Bloc: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which would take effect January 1st, 2024.
The new additions will cause the BRICS economic alliance to grow to cover 37% of the world's combined GDP, and contain 46% of the global population: Read More.
Russia Responds To US Decision To Send Depleted Uranium Shells To Ukraine - Although mainstream reports that Russian claims about depleted uranium shells are “disinformation,” statements by the U.S. government on the dangers are mixed.
MOSCOW - Russia has responded to the decision by the United States to send depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, saying that it is "very bad news" and that all responsibility for taking this step will "lie with the US leadership".
Russia has repeatedly warned about sending depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, saying that it would be a "serious escalation" and claiming that the shells leave behind radioactive dust that "settles on the ground" contaminating the food supply in the country and leading to outbreaks of cancer.
Although mainstream reports that Russian claims are “disinformation,” statements by the U.S. government on the danger of depleted uranium shells are mixed.
While some government reports claim that the risks from inhaling airborne particles from depleted uranium shells are "very low", other government reports, such as from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Utah National Guard have said that handling depleted uranium rounds is "especially dangerous" and can lead to severe health problems.
Russia’s Response, And What U.S. Government Reports Say About The Dangerous Of Depleted Uranium Shells: Read Full Report.
Biden Administration Announces $600 Million In Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine - The package includes: 20 Mi-17 helicopters, 31 Abrams tanks, 45 T-72B tanks, 38 HMARS, 198 155mm Howitzers, Ground-Launched small-diameter bomb launchers, a Patriot Air Defense System, and more.
WASHINGTON - The Biden Administration has announced an additional $600 million in security assistance for Ukraine, including 20 Mi-17 helicopters, 31 Abrams tanks, 45 T-72B tanks, 38 HMARS systems and ammunition, 198 155mm Howitzers, Ground-Launched small-diameter bomb launchers, a Patriot Air Defense System and munitions, NASAMS surface-to-air missile systems, and more.
A statement by the Department of Defense said that the package is provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and includes equipment to augment Ukraine's air defenses, artillery munitions, and other capabilities. The full capabilities which total up to $600 million, include: See Capabilities | Ukraine Aid Timeline.
DoD: $175 Million In Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine, Including Depleted Uranium Rounds - The package “includes additional air defense equipment; artillery munitions; anti-tank weapons, including depleted uranium rounds for previously committed Abrams tanks; and other equipment”. Timeline Of Ukraine Assistance.
WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense has announced $175 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine, which includes depleted uranium shells for the Abrams tanks already given to Ukraine.
The package “includes additional air defense equipment; artillery munitions; anti-tank weapons, including depleted uranium rounds for previously committed Abrams tanks; and other equipment”.
Russia: Return Of US Nuclear Weapons In Britain Is An Escalation - MOSCOW - After a March funding request to the U.S. Congress, and news reports indicated that the United States may be planning to store nuclear warheads at Royal Air Force Lakenheath in Suffolk, England, Russia called the possibility an "escalation".
It is US policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence or absence of nuclear weapons at any general or specific location.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the return of American nuclear weapons to Britain would be seen by Russia as anti-Russia destabilization, and an escalation.
What Indicated The US Plans To Host Nuclear Weapons In The UK, Russia's Response, And More: Read Full Report.
IAEA: No Mines Or Explosives Found On ZNPP Unit 3 And 4 Reactor Building Rooftops - IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that they gained "unimpeded" access to the rooftops of two reactor units.
UKRAINE - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that they gained access to the rooftops of Unit 3 and 4 reactor buildings, and turbine halls of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine and observed no mines or explosives.
The agency cited IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi as saying that they gained "unimpeded" access to the rooftops of two reactor units on August 3rd and could "clearly view the rooftops of the turbine halls" and said that no mines or explosives were found.
Grossi Reports Hearing A Series Of Detonations The Night Before: Read More.
Ukraine Claims Russian Drones Detonated In NATO Member Romania. Romania Denies Claim - Romanian Ministry of Defense: The Ministry of National Defense firmly denies the information circulating in the public space with regard to a so-called situation that occurred".
BUCHAREST/KYIV - Ukraine has claimed Russian shahedi drones crossed over into Romanian territory and detonated during an airstrike during the night on the Ukrainian Izmail Port and said that they have photographic evidence. The Romanian Ministry of Defense, however, firmly denied the claims.
The Romanian Ministry of Defense statement said, "The Ministry of National Defence firmly denies the information circulating in the public space with regard to a so-called situation that occurred during the night of 3-4 September, when Russian drones would have fallen on Romania’s national territory.
Romanian And Ukrainian Statements On The Alleged Incident: Read Full Report.
Belarus Claims Poland Violated Border With Helicopter, Poland Denies Claim - MINSK - Belarus has claimed that a Polish military helicopter violated the Belarusian border on September 1st in a statement released by the State Border Committee of Belarus, posting a video of the alleged crossing taking place.
Poland has denied the claims and said that there was no such violation. Claims By Belarus, Poland’s Response: Read More
Russia: Sarmat "Satan II" MERV Equipped ICBM Put On Combat Duty - MOSCOW - The head of Russia's space corporation Roscosmos Yuri Borisov has stated that the country has put the new generation of Sarmat "Satan II" intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) systems into combat duty.
In 2022, Putin stated the importance of the "nuclear triad" and the capability of launching from land, sea, and air. At the time the systems were originally announced, Shoigu had stated that the "collective West" had been waging a "real war" against Russia.
Additionally, Putin had said on more than one occasion that Russia was ready to use all means, including the use of nuclear weapons in order to defend its "territorial integrity". Read Full Report.
Biden Administration Announces $250 Million In Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine - Dod: "This announcement is the Biden Administration's forty-fifth tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021".
Department of Defense: Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This announcement is the Biden Administration's forty-fifth tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.
It includes additional air defense and artillery munitions, mine-clearing equipment, medical vehicles, and other equipment to help Ukraine counter Russia's ongoing war of aggression on the battlefield and protect its people. Read More | Ukraine Aid Timeline
Russia Reports Fixed Wing Drone Intercepted Above Moscow - MOSCOW - Russian state media has reported a fixed wing unmanned drone that it says was Ukrainian, and intercepted above Moscow, citing the country's Ministry of Defense.
The state media cited the defense ministry as saying, "At around 3:30 a.m. Moscow time today, the Kiev government’s attempt to attack facilities in Russia with a fixed-wing drone was thwarted".
State media went on to say that, "The drone was intercepted and crashed on the territory of the Ruzsky municipal district in the Moscow Region [west of Moscow]".
Russia: Swarm Of Drones Attacked Pskov Airport Near Estonian Border - PSKOV - Russian state media is reporting that a "swarm" of unmanned drones attacked an airport in Pskov, Russia located between 10 and 20 miles from the Estonian border.
Estonia is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). While some OSINT accounts are reporting that the drones came from Estonia, we've deemed these reports as being unsubstantiated rumors.
There is no indication that it came from NATO-allied territory, and Russian media claims the drones were Ukrainian.
Pskov region Governor Mikhail Vedernikov said on his Telegram channel that there were "no casualties" as a result of the attack. He also posted a video, which has been attached to this report. Read More.
Global Wildfire Update: North American Wildfire Smoke Reaching Europe - North American Wildfire Smoke Reaching Europe. Wildfires continue to burn across the world.
Wildfire maps for each country: See Current Wildfire Maps.
U.S. Will Train Ukrainian F-16 Pilots, Ground Crews, DoD Holds Press Briefing - DoD: The U.S.-led training is "in support of the international effort to develop and strengthen Ukraine's long-term defenses".
The Defense Department will begin training Ukrainians to fly and maintain F-16 fighter jets in the coming months, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder said today.
The training is expected to begin in October at the Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, and will be facilitated by the Air National Guard's 162nd Wing.
The U.S.-led training is "in support of the international effort to develop and strengthen Ukraine's long-term defenses," Ryder said.
The Netherlands and Denmark have announced their intentions to make F-16 aircraft from their fleets available to Ukraine.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken signaled the United States' willingness to approve the third-party transfer of the U.S.-made F-16s to Ukraine in a letter to his European counterparts last week.
Training To Be Provided By US, To Compliment F-16 Pilot Training Currently Underway, DoD Press Briefing: Full Report & Press Briefing.
DoD: Prigozhin Assessed To Have Died In The Plane Crash Yesterday - DoD: Media reports that the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile are "inaccurate", have no information that suggests it was a surface-to-air missile.
WASHINGTON - Department of Defense Spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder said during a press briefing that the DoD's initial assessment "based on a variety of factors" is that Wagner leader Evgeny Prigozhin was likely killed in the plane crash.
He also said that media reports that the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile are "inaccurate", and that they have no information that suggests it was a surface-to-air missile, and said the Department of Defense is continuing to assess the situation.
Media Reports Claim A Bomb Brought The Plane Down: Although Ryder refused to answer whether or not it was a bomb that caused the plane crash that killed Prigozhin, the Wall Street Journal released a report claiming that the plane was brought down internally, by a bomb and cited unnamed US officials. Read Full Report.
Russia: Wagner Leader Dies After Passenger Plane Crashes - Prigozhin's telegram channel posted a photo of the wreckage highlighting places where there were holes in the metal.
MOSCOW - Russian state media reports that 10 people, including Wagner leader Evgeny Prigozhin, were killed after a passenger plane they were in crashed, with 8 bodies having been recovered.
There have been some reports it was shot down by air defenses. Although this has not been confirmed, Prigozhin's telegram channel posted a photo of the wreckage highlighting places where there were holes.
Russia’s Tsargrad TV is reporting that the bodies of both Yevgeny Prigozhin and his “right-hand man” Dmitry Utkin have been identified, citing the Federal Air Transport Agency as a source. They added that genetic testing is to be carried out on the bodies.
What Russian media, as well as Prigozhin's Telegram Channel says about the crash: Read Full Report.
DoD: U.S. Open to Training Ukrainian F-16 Pilots if Needed, Hawaii Update - US Department of Defense: Last week, in a letter from Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to counterparts in Europe, the U.S. signaled its willingness to approve the third-party transfer of U.S.- made F-16 aircraft to Ukraine.
Both the Netherlands and Denmark have announced their intentions to make F-16 aircraft from their own fleets available to Ukraine.
Regarding ongoing efforts in Hawaii, Joint Task Force 5-0 is now at full operational capacity and is actively synchronizing DOD support of operations there.
The Department of Defense said that the task force's mission is to support and augment the efforts of county, state, and federal authorities in Hawaii to ensure the people of Maui receive necessary aid and assistance. Read Full Report.
Foreign Military Sale To Poland – AH-64E Apache Helicopters - WASHINGTON, August 21, 2023 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Poland of AH-64E Apache Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $12.0 billion.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
Total AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters: 96, Other Weapons And Military Equipment Read Full Report.
US Issues Travel Alert To Belarus, Moscow: Attack On Belarus Is Attack On Russia - Russian ambassador to Belarus said that if Belarus is attacked, Russia will respond "with all our weaponry".
MOSCOW - Russia issued a warning that any attack on Belarus will be treated as an attack on Russia, after which the United States issued a Do Not Travel alert for Belarus, citing Belarusian authorities' continued facilitation of Russia's war on Ukraine.
Russian ambassador to Belarus said that if Belarus is attacked, Russia will respond "with all our weaponry," leading Russian state media to report that the comment hints "at the option of a nuclear strike" as a possible response.
The Do Not Travel alert added that the travel alert was issued "due to the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus".
"U.S. citizens in Belarus should depart immediately. Consider departing via the remaining border crossings with Lithuania and Latvia, or by plane. U.S. citizens are not permitted to enter Poland overland from Belarus. Do not travel to Russia or to Ukraine," the State Department travel alert added.
Moscow: All Military Capabilities Will Be Used To Retaliate If Belarus Is Attacked: Read More.
Global Wildfire Locations For Last 24 Hours - August 21st, 2023 - National Weather Service Seattle: "Air quality remains poor across most of Washington this morning, though improvement can be seen along the coast and through the Strait of Juan de Fuca as onshore flow is beginning to mix smoke out of the area".
Fires are still burning across the globe, maps included below show wildfires in Africa, Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and North America. There are relatively few fires in Russia. Whether that is due to a lack of sensors in the region is unknown. See Global Wildfire Maps.
Security Alert – U.S. Embassy Minsk, Belarus - August 21, 2023 - Security Alert – U.S. Embassy Minsk, Belarus for August 21st, 2023. On August 18th, border crossings at Tverecius, Vidzy and Sumskas, and Losha were closed.
Travel - State Department: Lithuania & Belarus Border: “On August 18th, border crossings at Tverecius / Vidzy and Sumskas / Losha were closed. Further Polish, Lithuanian, and Latvian border crossings with Belarus are possible. [Four] open Lithuania / Belarus borders”.
Location: Belarus. Event: The Lithuanian government on August 18 closed two border crossings with Belarus at Tverecius / Vidzy and Sumskas / Losha. The four border crossings at Lavoriskes / Kotlova, Medininkai / Kamenny, Raigardas / Privalka, and Salcininkai / Beniakoni are currently open. The Polish, Lithuanian, and Latvian governments have stated that further closures of border crossings with Belarus are possible.
Actions to take: Do not travel to Belarus due to Belarusian authorities’ continued facilitation of Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus.
U.S. citizens in Belarus should depart immediately. Consider departing via the remaining border crossings with Lithuania and Latvia, or by plane. U.S. citizens are not permitted to enter Poland overland from Belarus. Do not travel to Russia or to Ukraine. Read Advisories.
Russia's Luna-25 Crashes Into Moon - The Russian moon lander was scheduled to land on the moon on August 21st, but instead spun out of control and crashed into the moon.
MOSCOW - After Russia launched its first moon lander in nearly 50 years on the Soyuz-2 Fregat rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome on August 11th, the Luna-25, which was scheduled to land on the moon on August 21st instead crashed into the moon after a failed orbital adjustment.
Russian state news said that the Luna-25 automatic station "switched to an off-design orbit" and collided with the moon, after which it "ceased to exist", according to the press service of Russia's state space program Roskosmos.
Efforts To Locate Craft And Restore Contact Were Unsuccessful: Read More.
US Approves Sending F-16 Fighter Jets To Ukraine - WASHINGTON - The United States approves Denmark and the Netherlands sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine after the Ukrainian pilots are finished training for the aircraft, according to a Reuters report citing a U.S. Official.
As Denmark and the Netherlands asked for assurances that the United States would expedite the approval, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made assurances in letters to officials from both countries.
Blinken’s Letters Expressing Full Support By US For Transfer Of F-16 Fighter Jets To Ukraine: Read More.
DoD: General Says Deterring Two 'Near Peer' Competitors Is Complex - Department of Defense: U.S. Strategic Command is focusing on extended deterrence during a time when the country faces two near-peer rivals, said Air Force Gen. Anthony J. Cotton yesterday.
The command continually assesses the threats and examines the command "for sizing and the right force posture to meet the challenges which we would face," he said during U.S. Strategic Command’s Deterrence Symposium in Omaha, Nebraska.
Russia has long been a near-peer competitor to the United States, with around 5,900 nuclear weapons in manned bombers, intercontinental missiles and submarine-launched platforms.
China today has around 350-400 nuclear weapons, and Chinese leaders have announced a program to have more than 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030. Read Full Report.
US Approves Arrow 3 Defense System To Germany - The Arrow 3 weapons system is a major part of Israel's multilayered defense array. This array is based on four layers; Iron Dome and David's Sling, and the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems.
Israeli Ministry of Defense: The US government has approved the historic procurement of the Arrow 3 defense system to Germany.
The IMOD, German Federal MOD, and Israel Aerospace Industries will sign the landmark $3.5 billion defense agreement, marking Israel’s largest-ever defense deal.
DoD: Arrow 3 Major Part Of Israel’s Multilayered Defense: US Department of Defense: "The Arrow 3 weapons system is a major part of Israel's multilayered defense array. This array is based on four layers; Iron Dome and David's Sling, and the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems.
The success of this test is a major milestone in the operational capabilities of Israel and its ability to defend itself against current and future threats in the region.
Arrow 3 interceptors were delivered to the Israeli air force in January 2017 for operational use." Read Full Report.
Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine - "It includes additional air defense munitions, artillery and tank ammunition, anti-armor weapons, and other equipment".
Department of Defense: Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This announcement is the Biden Administration's forty-fourth tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.
It includes additional air defense munitions, artillery and tank ammunition, anti-armor weapons, and other equipment. Read More. Aid Timeline.
British RAF Typhoon jets intercept Russian bombers flying north of Scotland - "Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots launched Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon fighters to intercept two Russian long-range maritime patrol bombers".
British Government: The Typhoons launched from RAF Lossiemouth, one of the RAF’s two Quick Reaction Alert stations, where RAF fighters are constantly available to respond to threats at a moment’s notice.
Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots launched Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon fighters to intercept two Russian long-range maritime patrol bombers this morning as they transited north of the Shetland Islands within NATO’s northern air policing area.
The Typhoon jets are launched from RAF Lossiemouth, one of the RAF’s two QRA stations, where RAF fighters are constantly available to respond to threats at a moment’s notice in order to defend UK airspace.
Russian Reconnaissance And Patrol Aircraft Monitored By RAF Typhoons: Read More
Russia Says Its Black Sea Patrol Ship Fired Warning Shots At Palau Cargo Ship - MOSCOW - The Russian Ministry of Defense has reported that one of its patrol ships belonging to the Black Sea Fleet fired warning shots at a Palau flagged cargo vessel.
According to the statement from the Russian MOD, after the captain of the Palau flagged vessel did not respond to Russian demands to inspect the ship heading to the Ukrainian port of Izmail, "warning fire from automatic small arms was opened from a Russian warship".
After the ship stalled, the statement says a Ka-29 helicopter with Russian military personnel was raised from the Vasily Bykov patrol ship and a Russian inspection team landed on the cargo vessel.
The statement then said, "After the completion of the work of the inspection team on board the Sukra Okan, the ship continued to move to the port of Izmail". Read Full Statement
Poland Deploys Water Cannons To Border After Attack By Group Of 40 Foreigners - Polish Border Guard: "TAJFUN is a modern specialist vehicle with increased resistance to impact with blunt or sharp objects and to open fire, equipped with 2 water cannons. Currently at the disposal of the Border Guard."
WARSAW - Poland has deployed water cannons at its border after a group of 40 foreigners attacked the border, according to the Polish Border Guard.
Polish Border Guard statement: "In addition to special vehicles TUR the Border Guard currently has vehicles of the type at the border TAJFUN equipped with water cannons. Yesterday one of them was sent to the episode #PSGDubiczeCerkiewnewhere a group of 40 aggressive foreigners attacked the border in the evening.
TAJFUN is a modern specialist vehicle with increased resistance to impact with blunt or sharp objects and to open fire, equipped with 2 water cannons. Currently at the disposal of the Border Guard."
Polish Border Guard: On the tenth of August 105 foreigners from Belarus tried to reach Poland illegally: Read Full Report
Poland: Stationing Troops On Border With Belarus Not A Hostile Action, But Deterrence - Poland had decided to beef up security at its border with Belarus, stationing up to 10,000 soldiers at the border with Belarus after two Belarusian military helicopters entered Polish airspace last week.
WARSAW - The Polish defense minister Mariusz Blaszczak spoke on Saturday regarding the recent increase in soldiers on the country's border with Belarus, saying that the move was not a hostile act, as is being claimed by Russia and Belarus, but one of deterrence.
“There is no doubt that the Belarus regime is cooperating with the Kremlin and that the attacks on the Polish border are intended to destabilize our country,” the Polish defense minister said.
The actions by Belarus Blaszczak says "pose a threat to our security" leading Poland to build up its "deterrence potential".
Blaszczak said that although up to 10,000 troops will be stationed on the border with Belarus, some will be in active training and patrolling, while others will be on standby.
In addition to threats by Belarus, Poland is concerned about the presence of Russian Wagner mercenaries within the country, and about Wagner sending migrants to the border in what Poland calls "hybrid warfare" with the intention of triggering instability in the West.
Russia has also claimed that Poland intends to annex western parts of Ukraine based on a Polish news report that was taken out of context. Read The Full Report
International Space Race To Moon's South Pole Begins - Luna 25, Russia's first moon mission in almost 50 years, as well as India's Chandrayaan 3, are expected to land on the moon at the end of August.
FLORIDA - NASA administrator Bill Nelson said on Tuesday at the Kennedy Space Center that the Moon's South Pole may become another "South China Sea" with China staking claims and telling other countries to "stay out" if they end up getting there first.
The United States, Russia, India, and China are in a race to get to the moon, namely the South Pole where it is believed ice is trapped. Luna 25, Russia's first moon mission in almost 50 years, as well as India's Chandrayaan 3, are expected to land on the moon at the end of August. Read Full Report.
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant's Reactor 4 Switched From Hot Shutdown To Cold After Water Leak Detected - IAEA and Ukrainian state energy company Energoatom: "There was no radiological release to the environment".
KYIV - After a water leak was detected in one of the steam generators in the containment of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant's Reactor Unit 4, the reactor unit was switched from hot shutdown to cold shutdown, according to a statement from the IAEA, as well as Ukraine’s state energy company Energoatom.
A statement by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cited the agency’s Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi as saying that the ZNPP will place unit 4 into cold shutdown in order to “determine the precise cause of the water leak that has been detected,” as well as to “conduct maintenance to repair the affected steam generator”.
The IAEA statement said, “There was no radiological release to the environment”. Read Full Report
Poland To Send Up To 10,000 Soldiers To Belarusian Border - The additional soldiers come as Poland and Latvia have been beefing up security along the Belarusian border in July and August.
WARSAW - Poland says that they are planning to move up to 10,000 more soldiers to the Belarusian border to augment the Polish Border Guard tasked with patrolling its border. The additional soldiers come as Poland and Latvia have been beefing up security along the Belarusian border in July and August. Read Full Report
Russia Reports Shooting Down Two Military Drones Targeting Moscow - MOSCOW - Russian state media has reported that air defenses shot down two "strike drones" targeting Moscow, citing a statement by the Russian Capital's Mayor.
TASS cited Sergey Sobyanin as saying that the drones were shot down at around 4 pm on Thursday.
"In the early hours of Thursday, at about 4:00 a.m., the Air Defense forces shot down two military strike drones that were en route to Moscow. One was downed in the Kaluga Region and the other near the Central Ring Road [federal highway]," he said according to the state-run news agency.
Although Russia claims to have shot down the UAVs, video footage posted out on social media claims to show that at least some of the UAVs were not shot down, and instead successfully hit targets.
Lithuania Strips Over 1,000 Russian/Belarusian Citizens Of Lithuanian Residency - VILNIUS - Lithuania has stripped the permanent residency status of 1,164 citizens of Russia and Belarus, declaring them a security risk, according to the Lithuanian Migration Department.
The decision came after the country sent out a questionnaire asking the residents how they felt about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and what they thought of both the invasion and the Crimean territories annexed by Russia in 2014.
White House Responds To Poland's Claim That Wagner Forces Arrived At The Suwalki Gap - Poland had announced that 1,000 Polish troops would be deployed at its border with Belarus in response to said reports about Wagner soldiers closing in on Poland.
WASHINGTON - U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday that the White House is not aware of a threat to Poland from Wagner forces after the Polish Prime Minister claimed "more than a hundred" Wagner soldiers in Grodno were heading toward Poland.
Just before the comments by the Polish Prime Minister, Poland had announced that 1,000 Polish troops would be deployed at its border with Belarus in response to said reports about Wagner soldiers closing in on Poland.
U.S. Ambassador: Any Attack By Wagner On Poland Would Be Regarded As An Attack By Russia:
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said "Any attack by Wagner on Poland will be regarded as an attack by Russia", and added, "The Wagner Group, acting at the behest of the Russian government, is a threat to all of us".
Polish Ministry of Defense Regarding Situation At Poland's Border With Belarus - "August 1, 2023, there was a violation of Polish airspace by two Belarusian helicopters that were training near the border".
WARSAW - Polish Ministry of Defense: In order to explain the current situation on the Polish-Belarusian border, Mariusz Błaszczak, the Minister of National Defense, and chairman of the Committee for National Security and Defense Affairs convened a meeting of the Committee.
After the commanders and service chiefs presented conclusions from the analysis of the situation, it was established that today, August 1, 2023, there was a violation of Polish airspace by two Belarusian helicopters that were training near the border. The Belarusian side had previously informed the Polish side about the training.
The border crossing took place in the Białowieża area at a very low altitude, making it difficult to detect by radar systems.
Therefore, in the morning announcement, the Operational Command of the Armed Forces Branches informed that the Polish radar systems did not record any violation of Polish airspace.
Mariusz Błaszczak, the Minister of National Defense, chairman of the Committee for National Security and Defense Affairs, ordered to increase the number of soldiers on the border and to allocate additional forces and resources, including combat helicopters.
NATO was informed of the incident.
In addition, the Committee agreed that the charge d'affaires of Belarus would be summoned to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain the incident. We would like to remind you that Russia and Belarus have recently intensified hybrid activities against Poland.
Due to possible further provocations, we appeal for responsible dissemination and commenting on information that may be used by the Russian and Belarusian regimes.
Poland: Wagner Soldiers Moving Close To Polish Border, Suwałki Gap - A Russian lawmaker had earlier this month also claimed Wagner forces were sent to Belarus to train Belarusian soldiers for an attack on Poland and a potential seizure of the Suwałki Gap. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
WARSAW - After Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that the Wagner group of soldiers that had been sent to Belarus were putting a "strain" on him because they wanted to go "West" on an "excursion", a group of 100 Wagner soldiers are now moving close to the Polish border, according to the Polish Prime Minister.
A Russian lawmaker had earlier this month claimed Wagner forces were sent to Belarus to train Belarusian soldiers for an attack on Poland and a potential seizure of the Suwałki Gap [aka Suwałki Coordidor].
Russia: US Coalition MQ-9 UAV "Dangerously Approached" Russian Su-34 Military Aircraft - A Russian Rear Admiral said a US-led coalition MQ-9 UAV "once again" dangerously approached the Russian aircraft at an altitude of around 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) near Nafla in the Raqqa province. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
MOSCOW - Russian state media has reported that a United States coalition MQ-9 unmanned aerial aircraft (UAV) "dangerously approached" one of their Su-34 supersonic fighter bombers on July 28th over Syria.
Russian Rear Admiral Oleg Gurinov, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria was cited by TASS as saying that the US-led coalition MQ-9 UAV "once again" dangerously approached the Russian aircraft at an altitude of around 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) near Nafla in the Raqqa province
The incident occurred just days after the U.S. Air Force reported that a Russian military aircraft had flown dangerously close to an American MQ-9 UAV and released flares directly under the aircraft, severely damaging its propeller, and was not the first time the incident was reported to have occurred.
Biden Administration Announces Additional $400 Million In Security Assistance for Ukraine - This authorization is the Biden Administration’s forty-third drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021 Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced an additional $400 million in security assistance to Ukraine, making it the 43rd drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August of 2021.
Today’s drawdown of equipment includes additional air defense munitions, artillery and other ammunition, armored vehicles, anti-armor weapons, and other equipment.
Russian Aircraft Harasses & Releases Flares, Damaging US MQ-9 Propeller - US Air Force Central: "On July 23 Russian military aircraft deployed flares, damaging a U.S. MQ-9 while conducting a defeat-ISIS mission". Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - “On 23 July, 2023 at 12:23 a.m. (EST) Russian fighter aircraft flew dangerously close to a U.S. MQ-9 drone on a defeat-ISIS mission, harassing the MQ-9 and deploying flares from a position directly overhead, with only a few meters of separation between aircraft.
One of the Russian flares struck the U.S. MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller. Fortunately, the MQ-9 crew was able to maintain flight and safely recover the aircraft to its home base.
IAEA Observes Mines At Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant Site - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): The IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that experts have observed directional anti-personnel mines "on the periphery of the site of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP)". Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
The agency said that the mines were spotted during a walk-down on July 23rd when IAEA personnel saw mines planted "in a buffer zone between the site’s internal and external perimeter barriers".
The agency also noted the planned transition of reactor 4 from cold to hot shutdown.
It added that the experts reported the mines being situated in a restricted area that personnel operating the nuclear power plant are not allowed to access, and that they are facing away from the site.
The statement said that the team did not observe any mines within the inner site perimeter during their walk down at the nuclear power plant.
Russian Foreign Ministry statement on the Ukrainian attacks on Moscow and Crimea - The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement on the attacks that said Russia reserves the right to take “tough retaliatory measures” in response to what it called “terrorist methods” by Ukraine meant to “intimidate the civilian population”. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on July 24th during the early hours, aside from two drones that that targeted Moscow, Ukraine made an “attempt” to attack facilities in Crimea that it said was “thwarted”, and said that in all 17 drones were launched, fourteen of which were “suppressed” using radio-electronic warfare systems.
Russia: Ukrainian Drone Attack On Moscow "International Terrorism" - Buildings that were damaged were located only around 200 yards away from the Russian Defense Ministry building. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
MOSCOW - The Russian Foreign Ministry reported a drone attack on Moscow early on Monday, which it says was carried out by Ukraine, and called the attack an act of "international terrorism".
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova spoke to Russian RTVI TV and condemned the attack, saying that it resulted in the damage of several non-residential buildings.
Buildings that were damaged were located only around 200 yards away from the Russian Defense Ministry building, though it's not clear whether or not that was the intended target.
The Russian Foreign Ministry had earlier claimed that Ukraine was attempting to stage a "terrorist attack" against Moscow using two drones, which it said were suppressed by two electronic warfare (EW) systems.
Biden Administration Announces Additional $1.3 Billion In Security Assistance for Ukraine - Department of Defense: Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced a new $1.3 billion security assistance package to support Ukraine's battlefield needs and underscore unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
The package includes NASAMS, 152mm rounds, mine clearing equipment, TOW missiles, UAS systems, aerial munitions, counter-UAS equipment, fuel trucks, tactical vehicles, port security equipment, communication systems, and support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities.
This package, which includes critical air defense capabilities and munitions, will be provided as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Ukraine Assistance Timeline.
Britain Rejects Russia's Claims It Was Involved In Attack On Kerch Strait Bridge - A statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the attack, which occurred in the “early hours” of July 17th involved the use of two Ukrainian “water-surface drones”. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
UNITED KINGDOM - Britain has rejected claims by Russia that it was involved in the recent attack resulting in an explosion on the Kerch Strait Bridge, according to a spokesman for the British Foreign Ministry.
UN Claims North Korean Missile Landed In Russian EEZ, Russia Investigates Crash Site - MOSCOW - The United Nations has claimed that the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched by North Korea on Wednesday, July 12th landed in Russia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which has led Russia to investigate the site where the ICBM crashed down. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ - Email alerts only available for paid subscribers.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova initially said that the claims by the United Nations were unsubstantiated.
“There’s currently no data confirming the fall [of the North Korean missile] in our exclusive economic zone,” she stated on Telegram.
UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari had claimed that the North Korean Missile “flew around 1,000km… before falling into the sea, inside the Russian Federation’s exclusive economic zone".
He added that the launch was potentially the "longest ballistic missile flight" on record.
Explosion At Uranium Plant In Russia - One person was killed after what Rosotom called the "depressurization of a cylinder with depleted uranium hexafluoride". Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
MOSCOW - There was an explosion at a uranium plant, according to Russian Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom. Russian state news said that one person was killed after what Rosotom called the "depressurization of a cylinder with depleted uranium hexafluoride".
Uranium hexafluoride is an inorganic "volatile white solid" that reacts with water, "releasing corrosive hydrofluoric acid" according to Wikipedia.
A statement by Rosatom said, "The workshop is being sanitized. The rest are operating normally. Measurements of background radiation were carried out at the site. It amounted to 0.17 microsieverts, which corresponds to natural values."
Rosatom told Newsweek that the person who died in the "tragic incident" was a 65-year-old "dedicated equipment maintenance technician".
Russian media has reported that the situation is "under control".
Biden Mobilizing 3,000 Reserve Soldiers To Europe - WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden is mobilizing 3,000 reserve soldiers to active duty in Europe in order to support U.S. soldiers currently deployed there for Operation Atlantic Resolve. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
The order said that deployed soldiers would not exceed 3,000 total members at any given time, and not more than 450 of the soldiers may be members of the Individual Ready Reserve.
The presidential order said, "I hereby determine that it is necessary to augment the active Armed Forces of the United States for the effective conduct of Operation Atlantic Resolve in and around the United States European Command’s area of responsibility".
Russia Says It Will Treat F-16s To Ukraine As Nuclear Threat - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow cannot ignore the nuclear capability of US-designed F-16 fighter jets, and how the aircraft could carry nuclear weapons. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
Lavrov said that Western plans to give US-designed fighter jets to Ukraine is an "extremely dangerous development" and that it would see it as a nuclear threat.
NATO Puts 300,000 Troops On High Readiness - NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has announced that the alliance is putting 300,000 troops on high readiness, and adding three new regional defense plans to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defense to counter both Russia and terrorism in those regions. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
Stoltenberg said, "At the summit we will take further major steps to strengthen our deterrence and defense with three new regional defense plans to counter the two main threats to our lines: Russia and terrorism".
Erdogan Will Back Sweden Joining NATO If Talks Resume For Turkey To Join EU - Ankara - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says that he will back Sweden joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if the European Union resumes talks to pave the way for Turkey to join the EU. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
Erdogan said, "Almost all the NATO members are EU members. I am now addressing these countries, which are making Turkey wait for more than 50 years, and I will address them again in Vilnius," he continued.
Russia Responds To US Decision To Send Cluster Munitions To Ukraine - Russia Responds To US Decision To Send Cluster Munitions To Ukraine. In 2022, in response to reports Russia had used cluster bombs in Ukraine, the White House said the usage of cluster munitions would "potentially" be a war crime. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
MOSCOW - Russia's Foreign Ministry said that the decision of the United States to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions is the manifestation of the "aggressive anti-Russian course of the United States" and claims that it aims to drag out the conflict in Ukraine.
In 2022, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had commented on reports that Russia had used cluster bombs in Ukraine, to which she stated that the usage of cluster munitions would "potentially" be a war crime.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, "So the bottom line is this: We recognize that cluster munitions create a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordinance, this is why we deferred the decision for as long as we could".
NATO Chief Details Plans for Summit To Discuss Ukraine's Membership In NATO - Discussions will be held to address: a multiyear program of assistance to Ukraine, the establishment of the NATO-Ukraine Council, and Ukraine's membership in NATO. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
Department of Defense Statement: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg laid out the agenda for the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, next week, saying it will demonstrate alliance unity.
US President Joe Biden will join alliance heads of state and government during a critical moment in transatlantic security.
The summit sends the message to Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin that the alliance is united, and his aggression "will not pay," the secretary general said.
Department Of Defense Reports Third Day Of Repeated Russian "Unprofessional Behavior" Over Syria - Department of Defense: Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said today that the U.S. mission to defeat ISIS remains undeterred by Russia's recent harassment of U.S. aircraft operating in Syria after third day of Russian "unprofessional behavior" and harassment by Russia over Syria. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
His remarks were in response to an unsafe engagement on Wednesday in which Russian SU-35 fighter aircraft harassed three U.S. MQ-9 drones conducting a mission against ISIS targets.
Ryder condemned the interaction as "clearly unprofessional and unsafe behavior on the part of the Russians."
IAEA Says No Evidence Nuclear Power Plant In Ukraine Has Been Mined With Explosives - IAEA: The nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is "extremely fragile". Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
IAEA - The International Atomic Energy Agency says that it has been granted additional access at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine which is currently being held by Russian forces and has not found any evidence that it has been mined with explosives.
Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said on Friday, July 7th that there have been no visible indications of any mines or explosives at the nuclear power plant after there had been reports that Russia had mined the nuclear facility with explosive devices, an allegation which the IAEA has denied being supported by evidence.
Poland Ready To Joint NATO's Nuclear Sharing Program In Light Of Russian Nukes In Belarus - While Russia says it is maintaining control of the nuclear weapons, Belarus claims that it has control of the weapons, and is creating an algorithm for their use. Read Full Story On Patreon | Read Full Story On Defcon Alerts | Read Full Story On SJ.
WARSAW - Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Poland is now ready to join NATO’s nuclear sharing program which would allow NATO-allied countries to deploy nuclear warheads on its territory, in light of Russia’s deployment of tactical nuclear warheads in Belarus, which borders Poland.
"Due to the fact that Russia intends to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, we are asking the entire NATO to participate in a nuclear exchange program. The final decision will depend on our American partners. We declare our will to act quickly on this issue,” the Polish Prime Minister stated.
CIA Director Makes Secret Visit To Ukraine, US Considers Supplying Ukraine With Cluster Munitions - "Burns: Ukraine revealed to him a plan to re-take Russian occupied territories and negotiate ceasefire. Ukrainian official: “Russia will only negotiate if it feels threatened”. Read On Patreon | Read On Defcon Alerts | Read On SJ.
WASHINGTON - CIA Director William Burns made a “secret” visit to Ukraine in June and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and intel officials as Ukraine’s counteroffensive fails to significantly break the Russian lines. The United States is considering providing Ukraine with cluster munitions.
Russia reported that fighters of the 200th brigade of the Southern group of Russian troops repelled four attacks from the Ukrainian Armed Forces “in a day”.
Discussing Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Strategy
Reports of a secret visit by CIA Director William Burns surfaced on Friday, as American state-run news agency Voice of America (VOA) reports that the meetings, which included intelligence officials were to discuss Ukraine’s counteroffensive strategy. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
Wagner Chief Posts Voice Recording Explaining Actions - Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has posted an 11-minute-long audio clip on social media after disappearing on June 24th after stating that he was headed to Belarus. The clip did not say whether he is now in Belarus or not. Read More On Patreon | Read More On SJ.
In the clip, he reiterated that marching toward Moscow was not aimed at changing the Russian leadership, but that the group was triggered after being hit by Russian missiles and helicopters.
In the recording, he said, “We started our march due to injustice. We showed no aggression, but we were hit by missiles and helicopters. This was the trigger.
We showed a master class on how Feb. 24, 2022, had to look. We turned around to avoid spilling the blood of Russian soldiers. We regret that we had to hit Russian aviation".
Prigozhin States There Was No Agreement To Sign A Contract With The Russian MOD.
Read More On Patreon | Read More On SJ
Putin: Attempted Armed Rebellion By Head Of The Wagner Mercenary Group - The Ukrainian-Crimean Tatar partisan movement Atesh claims that the Wagner PMC is preparing to seize warehouses where Russia’s nuclear weapons are stored and have its eyes set on the warehouse known as 375 Object C. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts.
It also claims that the Russian military would be unable to protect the warehouse on its own due to having “very little manpower and resources” due to the military resources being locked up in the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Putin: Attempted Armed Rebellion By Head Of The Wagner Mercenary Group - MOSCOW - Russia has accused the head of the Wagner PMC of rebellion. Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to crush, what he called an armed mutiny as Russian helicopters attacked a convoy of Wagner mercenaries advancing toward Moscow, Russia. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
Founder of the Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday that he had taken control of Rostov-on-Don, Russia which has a population of over 1 million people and sits near the Ukrainian border.
A journalist from the Reuters news agency reported seeing Russian helicopters open fire at a Wagner column advancing past the city of Voronezh with “troop carriers and at least one tank on a flatbed truck”.
American Bombers In Sweden For First Time In Modern History - Swedish Armed forces: "On Monday, June 19, two American B-1B Lancers from the Bomber Task Force (BTF) landed at Luleå-Kallax airport to base Norrbotten's air fleet, F 21. For the first time in modern times, American bombers have thus landed in Sweden". Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
"This is a historic event. In these troubled times and while waiting for NATO membership, it is important to have strong partners.
We have repeated joint exercises with the Bomber Task Force where we practiced the entire chain, from escort and liaison to sharp weapons action and now we are taking the next step in our cooperation by basing the B1-B Lancer on Swedish soil, says Deputy Air Force Chief Brigadier General Tommy Petersson.
The USA is, together with Finland, Sweden's most important cooperation partner. In 2016, a letter of intent was signed between Sweden and the USA, which includes bilateral exercises.
Sweden has invited and leads the exercise, which has been planned for a long time.
Russia: Nukes In Belarus "Indefinitely" Unless US Removes Its Nuclear Weapons From Europe - U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday said that the threat of Russian President Vladimir Putin using a tactical nuclear weapon is "real" but "absolutely irresponsible". Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
MOSCOW - A Russian Foreign Ministry director has said that the country's tactical nukes being placed within Belarus are indefinite, unless the United States removes its own nukes from Europe.
Russia has blamed the presence of nuclear weapons by NATO-allied countries in Europe, as well as the West sending depleted uranium shells to Ukraine on its decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday said that the threat of Russian President Vladimir Putin using a tactical nuclear weapon is "real" but "absolutely irresponsible".
"When I was out here about two years ago saying I worried about the Colorado River drying up, everybody looked at me like I was crazy," he said.
"They looked at me like when I said I worry about Putin using tactical nuclear weapons. It's real," Biden added.
US To Send Depleted-Uranium Shells To Ukraine
Read the rest of the article here: Patreon | The Standeford Journal.
Swedish Defense Ministry: Russia Attack On Sweden Cannot Be Ruled Out - Swedish Defense Ministry: "An armed attack [by Russia] against Sweden cannot be ruled out. It also cannot be ruled out that military means of force or further threats of such may be used against Sweden". Read More On Patreon | Read More On SJ.
STOCKHOLM [Report based on a translation from Swedish] - The Swedish Defense Ministry says that an attack on Sweden cannot be ruled out and that even though Russia is currently fighting Ukraine, there is a capability for operations against Sweden.
The conclusions that were reached were included in the Defense Ministry’s “Allvarstid” report, according to a translated report by the Swedish news agency SVT.
The Swedish news agency said that the Allvarstid report’s origination comes from the “preparedness years” of 1939 to 1945 during the time that Sweden was under a similar security threat as it currently faces today.
SVT said that the security policy analysis is based on the same letter as another analysis that was published 5 years ago that said, "An armed attack against Sweden cannot be ruled out. It also cannot be ruled out that military means of force or further threats of such may be used against Sweden”.
“Now it’s time to rush”
It also said that it is generally viewed in the preparation that it is now urgent, and the report will “send signals” that now it is “serious time” regarding the country’s “total defense”.
According to the report, although Russia’s forces are tied up on the ground in Ukraine, Sweden still faces “several military threats”… Read Full Report On Patreon | Read Full Report On SJ
F-22 Raptors Demonstrate Air Superiority in CENTCOM - U.S. Central Command statement: "TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors deployed to U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility as part of a multifaceted show of U.S. support and capability in the wake of increasingly unsafe and unprofessional behavior by Russian aircraft in the region. Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On Patreon.
The F-22's combination of stealth, aerodynamic performance, and mission systems make it the best fifth-generation fighter in the world.
While in the CENTCOM area, the 94th Fighter Squadron will integrate with coalition forces on the ground and in the air.
"Russian Forces' unsafe and unprofessional behavior is not what we expect from a professional air force. Their regular violation of agreed upon airspace deconfliction measures increases the risk of escalation or miscalculation," said Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command. "Alongside our partners and allies, we are committed to improving the security and stability in the region."
British Royal Air Force: Typhoons Scrambled In Estonia To Intercept Russian Air Force Flying Close To NATO Airspace - British Royal Air force: "RAF Typhoons from 140 EAW in Estonia were scrambled this afternoon to intercept a Russian Air Force IL-20 COOT A and 2x Su-27 FLANKER B flying close to NATO airspace. The Russian aircraft failed to comply with international norms by not liaising with relevant FIRs." Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On Patreon.
Dutch Official: Training Ukrainian Pilots for F-16s Can Begin This Summer - Russia Says Modification Can Enable The Jets To Be Equipped With Nuclear Warheads, accuses the West of seeking to escalate tensions. Read More On Patreon | Read More On SJ.
NETHERLANDS - The Dutch Minister of Defense Kaysa Ollongren said that pilots from Ukraine can begin training on American-made F-16 fighter jets this summer. Russia says that a modification on the jets could enable them to be equipped with nuclear warheads, and is accusing the West of seeking to escalate tensions.
The Defense Minister said, "Ukrainian pilots can begin training this summer to fly US-made F-16 fighters. This will be the first step towards providing Ukraine with a strong and long-term potential in the war with Russia".
She also said that the training should be completed within six months’ time:
Countries Increase Nuclear Arsenals In 2023, With China Leading The Way - As geopolitical tensions continue to mount across the world, global powers are beginning to increase their usable nuclear warheads, with China leading the way. Read On Patreon | Read SJ Article.
SWEDEN - The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has released a report that shows the arsenals of some of the nine nuclear powers are growing as tensions on the geopolitical stage continue to mount, with China leading the way by increasing their nuclear stockpile by 60 warheads.
The nine nuclear powers include: Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States, and had a total known combined nuclear arsenal of 12,512 at the beginning of 2023.
Although the previous year the total combined nuclear arsenal was at 12,710, which was 198 fewer than in 2022, 9,576 of the current stockpile is considered “military stockpiles for potential use” which is 86 more than in 2022.
Only the stockpile considered ‘potential use’ are considered available to be used due to the fact that the total stockpile also includes older, out-of-commission nuclear warheads, and those scheduled for dismantling.
Russia To Deploy Tactical Nuclear Weapons To Belarus In July After Readying Storage Facilities - MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin told Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that Russia will begin deploying tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus in July after storage facilities are readied. Read SJ News Article | Read On Defcon Alerts | Read On Patreon.
During the conversation, Putin told Lukashenko that everything is “going according to plan” and that from July 7th to July 8th, the “preparation of the relevant facilities will be completed,” adding, “We will immediately begin measures related to the deployment of the relevant types of weapons on your territory. So everything is according to plan, everything is stable”.
They also talked about the growing relationship between Russia and Belarus, and the discussions of “economic issues”, which Lukashenko said were “issues” but “not problems” that are “being resolved”.
Russia: 2,700 Houses Flooded, 1,300 Evacuated Over Dam Collapse. Ukraine: Over 1560 Evacuated - Russia and Ukraine both blame each other for the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Russia claims it was done by Ukraine with an Olkha MLRS. Both countries say it was an act of terrorism. Read More On SJ | Read More On Patreon.
UKRAINE - Russian state news says that 2,700 houses were flooded and 1,300 people were evacuated in 15 different settlements in Kherson after the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam collapsed, citing emergency services. A Ukrainian Internal Affairs report says that over 1,560 people have been evacuated.
TASS claimed that the Ukrainian military struck the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) on Tuesday night, "presumably from an Olkha MLRS" and said that the "shelling destroyed the hydraulic valves at the dam, which it says triggered an "uncontrolled discharge of water".
The report said that in Novaya Kakhovka, the water level "exceeded 12 meters at one point" and that 80 villages "may be inundated [flooded]", adding that there are 14 settlements in the area that are flooded.
"The authorities deployed 40 temporary shelters capable of accommodating up to 5,500 people. At present, 345 civilians are staying in them," TASS reported.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense released a statement blaming Russia for the dam being destroyed, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky releasing a statement regarding the incident.
Chinese And Russian Bombers Fly Together Over Waters Surrounding Japan - Chinese and Russian bombers both flew together over waters surrounding the Japanese islands, causing the Japanese Self-Defense Force to scramble fighter jets in response, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense. Read More On SJ | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On Patreon.
The Chinese and Russian bombers did not violate Japanese airspace, but the move caused Japan to lodge complaints to China via diplomatic channels as Japan views the flights of the military aircraft as provocative.
The flights involved two Chinese H-6 bombers, and two Russian Tu-95 bombers, which flew over the Sea of Japan, and jointly flew over the East China Sea, according to the Ministry.
The Ministry also said that the Chinese and Russian bombers were joined by what it believes to have been two Chinese fighter aircraft.
Russia Reports Planned Flight Over Barents And Norwegian Seas, NATO Reports Scrambling Fighter Jets - MOSCOW - Russia reported a "planned flight" over the Barents and Norwegian seas for around five hours. A report by The Barents Observer cited Spokesperson Marius Vågenes Villanger from the Norwegian Armed Forces as saying NATO F-35 fighter aircraft were scrambled between 8:30 and 11:00 Norwegian time to meet "a group of Russian military planes" flying west from the Kola Peninsula. Read On News Platform | Read On Alert Platform.
The report said that there were at least nine aircraft that flew to the western Barents Sea but then returned home before reaching the region where the USS Gerald R. Ford" was operating.
It said that three Russian Tu-160 bombers, two Tu-95 bombers, one Il-78M tanker, and "at least one" MiG-31BM interceptor were spotted, adding that Villanger reported that there were two Tu-95 strategic bombers, two Il-78 tankers, and four MiG-31 jets, but said that the Norwegian pilots "did not see any Tu-160 bombers".
Russia: 40 Baltic Fleet Vessels, 3,500 Military Personnel Deployed For Military Exercises In Kaliningrad - MOSCOW - Up to 40 Baltic Fleet vessels and over 3,500 Russian soldiers were deployed to Kaliningrad for exercises, according to Russian state news, citing the Ministry of Defense. Read On News Platform | Read On Alert Platform.
"In accordance with the training plan for the military command and control bodies of the Baltic Fleet forces for 2023, from June 5 to June 15, an operational exercise with Baltic Fleet groups began under the leadership of the Commander of the Baltic Fleet, Vice Admiral Vladimir Vorobyov, in the Baltic Sea and at the combat training ranges in the Kaliningrad Region," the ministry statement said.
The statement added that the fleet involved up to 40 surface ships, boats, and support vessels and included corvettes and patrol ships, as well as missile boats and vessels, 25 helicopters, and 3,500 troops.
