Russia has a mine clearing weapon (Meteorite) that they’ve been using on civilian targets.
https://weaponsystems.net/system/693-UR-77+Meteorit
Essentially, if fires a explosive rope, which can then be detonated to set off a minefield so that tanks can then pass through. Ingenious but of limited utility after the war-- when mine clearing is probably the most important. It can also be used to directly target civilian infrastructure.
Just good Russian boys… so misled… so deceived. /s
Ok. That’s quite a difference to the original estimation.
Should we open a poll and start counting odds? What are the bets at the British bookies?
It’s getting harder and harder to imagine any outside interests wanting to do business with Putin’s government ever again.
Lessors are unlikely to be able to repossess the aircraft they have leased to Russian airlines, according to experts
Sure would make for an interesting episode of Operation Repo if TruTV decided to up the ante on their reality series game.
Comparable to the US “MICLIC”, pronounced “Mick Lick”
I really don’t understand how that is used to clear mines. It looks the ropes themselves didn’t explode, but the rocket warhead did. Maybe the shock-wave reverberates down the rope/cord and would trigger any mines?
Anyway, this videos shows a training launch, and maybe some footage from Syria? My question though is - does this really do more damage to buildings etc than a traditional shell or rocket? Or is it a matter of, use what you got. Or if it does divert the shock-wave down the rope, it could kill people on the ground that aren’t part of the initial blast.
This explains how it’s supposed to be used, as well as the off label or indiscriminate use.
Safety in numbers? Perhaps a little, if they do it simultaneously.
Russia foreign minister warns of ‘real’ danger of World War III
Sergei Lavrov told Russian news agencies that Russia’s peace talks with Ukraine will continue, but that there remains a “real” danger of a third world war. The Russian foreign minister was critical of the Ukrainian president’s approach to peace talks, accusing him of “pretending” to negotiate and calling him a “good actor”.
“Good will has its limits. But if it isn’t reciprocal, that doesn’t help the negotiation process,” he said. “But we are continuing to engage in negotiations with the team delegated by Zelenskiy, and these contacts will go on.”
He said he was confident that “everything will of course finish with the signing of an accord”, but that “the parameters of this accord will be defined by the state of the fighting that will have taken place at the moment the accord becomes reality.”
The danger of a world war is real, he said. “The danger is serious, it is real, you can’t underestimate it,” Lavrov told the Interfax news agency.
(Guardian liveblog a few minutes ago. You know how to find it.)
“Nice planet ya have there”, said the gangster.
It’s ironic he wanted to weaken/prevent more countries from joining NATO, and he just made 2 more want to join.
Hopefully Ukraine wins unilaterally and doesn’t have to capitulate to any future demands.
First, a bit more from Lavrov, who also spoke to state television in an interview that was posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry website.
In it, he said that deliveries of western weaponry to Ukraine mean that the Nato alliance is “in essence engaged in war with Russia” and Moscow views these weapons as legitimate targets, according to Reuters.
“These weapons will be a legitimate target for Russia’s military acting within the context of the special operation,” Lavrov said.
“Storage facilities in western Ukraine have been targeted more than once (by Russian forces). How can it be otherwise?” Lavrov said. “Nato, in essence, is engaged in a war with Russia through a proxy and is arming that proxy. War means war.”
Wait, I thought it was a special operation, not a war? Can’t even keep it straight in one thought, can ya Sergei?
And from the liveblog:
The UK plans to send more medical aid to Ukraine, including ambulances, fire engines and medical supplies.
Ukraine will receive 22 new ambulances, as well as more than 44 fire engines with rescue equipment, thermal imaging cameras and thousands of items of protective clothing, from the UK, Reuters reports. The aid is intended to help emergency services deal in Ukraine deal with the aftermath of Russian attacks.
“We have all been appalled by the abhorrent images of hospitals deliberately targeted by Russia since the invasion began over two months ago,” Boris Johnson said. “The new ambulances, fire engines and funding for health experts announced today will better equip the Ukrainian people to deliver vital healthcare and save lives.”
If those are the Biden administration’s aims, there is a separate question of whether it was sensible to declare them so bluntly. It arguably weakens Russia’s incentive to withdraw, reinforces Moscow’s narrative that Nato is waging a proxy war in Ukraine aimed at weakening Russia and even regime change, deepening Putin’s paranoia.
