Wow - this is a game changer.









CNN  —

Ukraine says it has for the first time used a US-made Patriot air defense system to intercept a Russian hypersonic missile.

Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, said on Telegram Saturday: “Yes, we have intercepted the ‘unmatched’ Kinzhal,’” adding the word “Patriot” and an emoji of the Ukrainian flag.

The Kh-47 Kinzhal is a hypersonic ballistic missile.

Ukraine has received at least two Patriot systems, one from the United States and one from Germany, to enhance its air defenses, which have previously been unable to intercept more modern Russian missiles such as the Kinzhal.

Oleshchuk said the interception “happened during the night attack on May 4 in the sky over Kyiv region.

He said the Kinzhal missile had been launched by a MiG-31K aircraft from Russian territory.

Yurii Ihnat, an Air Force Command spokesman, told Ukrainian television Saturday: “Yes, we do have weapons against ballistics.
”

“It’s good that we have such weapon. Unfortunately there’s not much of it,” Ihnat added.

Last month Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that Patriots would be critical in defending Ukrainian infrastructure against ballistic missiles.

“Building a multi-level air and missile defense system as soon as possible is our priority,” he declared. “This is to protect peaceful cities, critical infrastructure, and our people in the rear and at the front.

Gordon wrote on May 6^th, 2023 at 6:11pm:


no -
the Russians have hypersonic nukes so it's wonderful
that there is some defense against them.
This is a game changer.

chimera wrote on May 6^th, 2023 at 6:27pm:



It's a game changer against the Russian daggers.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/08/europe/russia-t-55-tanks-ukraine-intl-cmd/ind...





The tanks are T-55s, a model first commissioned by the Soviet Union’s Red Army in 1948, shortly after the end of World War II.
They’re so old, you can find them in museums.
But in following decades, when deployed against Western-built tanks – in some Arab-Israeli conflicts, and then in the Gulf War – they were no match.
“In the first Gulf War, in 1991 for example, the American and British tanks were knocking out Iraqi T-55s from 23 kilometers.

issuevoter wrote on May 8^th, 2023 at 8:28pm:



yes - see here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/07/world/europe/ukraine-frontline-russia-war.htm...

but it's subscription only.

Ukrainians Return Home, Renewed and Resigned

More than 5.5 million people who left after the war began in February 2022 have gone back home — and not just to large cities like Kyiv or Dnipro, but to small places near the front line, as well.


Still -
back to tanks.

Imagine being given a 70 year old T-55 tank and sent into a modern war?
It's a steel coffin.
Your only hope is that the Ukrainians would feel sorry for you
and not want to waste a tank shell.

https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-05-10-23/index....


4 hr 15 min ago



From CNN's Tim Lister and Seb Shukla

Andriy Biletsky attends a rally in Kyiv, Ukraine on March 9, 2019.
Andriy Biletsky attends a rally in Kyiv, Ukraine on March 9, 2019. Gleb Garanich/Reuters



Speaking in a video shared on Telegram, Andriy Biletsky, head of Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade, said "units of the 72nd Brigade of the Russian Federation were defeated."

The "6th and 8th companies of the division" had been "completely destroyed" along with a significant number of armored fighting vehicles, he added.

Biletsky said a "significant number of prisoners" were taken and "the 3rd Assault unit of Wagner also suffered heavy losses," referring to the Russian private military company -- or mercenary group -- that is playing a major role in the battles around Bakhmut.

The offensive action "completely freed" an area 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) wide and 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles) deep of Russian forces, he said. No exact location was given.

The spokesperson for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Serhii Cherevatyi, added that the battle was “still ongoing” but that “the enemy is suffering huge losses in this area.” He said that 203 were killed and 216 wounded.

He also noted that there was “no shortage of shells, but a shortage of people”. The spokesman said that there had been 524 attacks on Ukrainian positions around Bakhmut. Russia has suffered heavy losses in their months-long battle for the city, but have not yet been able to capture it.

“If they [Wagner] don’t get more personnel or change their tactics, in the near future, PMC Wagner will no longer exist in this area,” Cherevatyi added.

Some context: Bakhmut is the site of a long, drawn-out assault by Russian forces, including Wagner mercenaries, that has driven thousands from their homes and left the area devastated. But despite the vast amounts of manpower and resources Moscow has poured into capturing the city, they have been unable to take total control.