Ukrainian air defences using US-made Patriot interceptors neutralised a heavy Russian missile attack against Kyiv, with six KH-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched missiles reported to have been stopped by Patriots. However, the Kinzhal missiles are modified air-launched versions of the ground-launched Iskander short-range ballistic missile developed three decades ago, and do not incur the additional hypersonic boost-glide system of manoeuvrable hypersonic descent hypersonic weapons that can be fired atop booster rockets, making them harder to intercept. Therefore, while Patriots can indeed stop Kinzhal missiles, they cannot necessarily intercept swerving-and-jinking weapons. Additionally, Russia has been developing an Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, deployed on Russian ICBMs, capable of descending at Mach 20 and outpacing any interceptors. China is also said to be developing similar weapons.
President Zelensky's recent visit to Britain has resulted in the offer of air-defence missiles and attack drones, which marks a significant step up in the conflict. Britain's offer of weaponry, including the recently provided long-range Storm Shadow missiles, is pushing the boundaries of what other nations can offer, and has the potential to provide Ukraine with a level playing field in the conflict. With the ability to deplete, disrupt or destroy Russia's logistics, Ukraine now has a genuine game-changing capability. Though these additions are significant, it does not signal a swift end to the war against the "formidable foe" of Russia, but suggests the tide may slowly turn in Ukraine's favour.
UK and German defence ministers have stated that the decision to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine rests with the White House, despite a "coalition" being announced by Britain and the Netherlands this week. The fighter jet alliance was revealed by chancellor Rishi Sunak and Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte in Iceland, saying they would form an "international coalition to provide Ukraine with combat air capabilities, supporting everything from training to procuring F-16 jets". Nevertheless, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Britain has no F-16 jets and wouldn't send any Typhoon planes from its fleet.
Russia's hypersonic missile programme risks collapse due to the detention of multiple researchers as treason suspects, several senior scientists have warned in a public open letter. The head of the Novosibirks’ hypersonic missile technology lab, Alexander Shiplyuk, and aerodynamics specialist 76-year-old Anatoly Maslov, have been detained since last summer. In a warning to the Kremlin and to the public, scientists from Novosibirsk-based Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics urged Russian authorities to cease the detention of their colleagues, arguing that it risked damaging national research into hypersonic weapons.
Ukrainian air defences using US-made Patriot interceptors neutralised a heavy Russian missile attack against Kyiv, with six KH-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched missiles reported to have been stopped by Patriots. However, the Kinzhal missiles are modified air-launched versions of the ground-launched Iskander short-range ballistic missile developed three decades ago, and do not incur the additional hypersonic boost-glide system of manoeuvrable hypersonic descent hypersonic weapons that can be fired atop booster rockets, making them harder to intercept. Therefore, while Patriots can indeed stop Kinzhal missiles, they cannot necessarily intercept swerving-and-jinking weapons. Additionally, Russia has been developing an Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, deployed on Russian ICBMs, capable of descending at Mach 20 and outpacing any interceptors. China is also said to be developing similar weapons.
Since Mariupol in southern Ukraine fell to Russian control last year, steel-workers from the town have moved away to other towns; some found work in a central Ukraine steelworks in Kamianske, 168 miles away. Former Mariupol steelworkers, or the "Mariupol diaspora", connect over the loss suffered from their city and jobs. Some have saved their old work cards and hope one day to need them again. Others remember building holiday homes together when Russia invaded. A group of workers talk about one friend and former colleague who has disappeared. Managers say fewer than half the 10,500 workers at Azovstal are now accounted for. While keeping some semblance of community makes some workers feel stronger, for others it only serves to exacerbate their trauma. With there being no sign of Ukraine retaking the town, some of the steel-workers will contemplate nothing other than their current fate forwards.
Kyiv has faced its ninth Russian attack this month, with blasts also reported in central Ukraine. Kyiv’s military administration reported that incoming missiles had been destroyed, however, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that debris had caused a fire in the Darnitsya area of Kyiv, in a garage in which no was injured.
Former UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss's trip to Taiwan and her hardline stance against China's communist rulers is consistent with her previous stance on China being a threat to Britain’s national security. Truss's assessment of the threat Beijing poses to Taiwan's future independence, as well as the wider world, deserves serious consideration. Concerns are raised about the pace of submarine construction, with the UK on average building only one nuclear submarine every five years. Even with Aukus, a UK-US-Australia alliance to build new capabilities and alliances to counter the Chinese threat, the alliance has a lot of catching up to do if it is to pose a credible counter-balance to China’s military expansion.
Rail traffic has been suspended between Simferopol and the city of Sevastopol following the derailment of a freight train carrying grain. Crimean railways said in a statement that the incident was caused by “interference by outsiders” and Baza, a pro-Kremlin Telegram channel, said it had been caused by an IED that detonated on the tracks. Reports claim that eight cars came off the tracks, five of which overturned. The incident comes following two previous explosions on freight trains in Russia's Bryansk region earlier this month. There has been no claim of responsibility for any of the attacks to date.
Russian forces recently launched a missile attack on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, using Iranian Shahed loitering drones, Kalibr 'hypersonic' cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, as well as some other weaponry. Although Putin's attack intended to demonstrate force, it proved to expose Russia's weaknesses and military corruption. Moreover, after Ukraine defeated every missile, it showed how their ability to repel the military, resulting in more support from Western countries. Ukrainian forces' bravery is prevalent, but they need significant military aid from the West to continue fighting.
China's special envoy to Europe, Li Hui, has visited Ukraine in an effort to ease the country's conflict with Russia. The visit followed a discussion between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in the first contact between the two heads of state since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Ukraine has warned China not to tacitly approve of Moscow's action by refusing to call it an invasion or war and saying that it will only accept a peace agreement respecting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Li will also visit Russia, Poland, France and Germany.
Ukrainian refugees in York are coming together to celebrate Vyshyvanka Day, which is marked by the wearing of traditional Ukrainian embroidered clothes called vyshyvanka. Hundreds of Ukrainians in York will join the celebration at Merchant Taylors’ Hall, which has been organised by York City of Sanctuary, Merchant Taylors York and the York Ukrainian Society. During the event, there will be an embroidery exhibition as well as music and entertainment. Since February last year, around 350 Ukrainians, mainly women and children, have settled in York following the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces.
Satellite images have revealed the extent of the damage caused by heavy fighting in the Ukrainian frontline city of Bakhmut, which has changed hands several times since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The city, previously home to around 70,000 people, has been an epicentre of fighting in the east, with Russia keen to capture it to gain control over the rest of Donbas. Following months of fighting, including attacks by the mercenary Wagner Group, Ukraine has successfully mounted a counter-attack, recapturing nearly 20 square kilometres around the city, with further advances made recently. However, Russian forces continue to send in fresh units as "they are moving new units there (to Bakhmut), primarily paratroopers, in an attempt to achieve some kind of intermediate success," said Ukrainian military spokesperson, Serhii Cherevatyi.
Russian soldiers fighting on the front line in Ukraine are suffering, and with rising casualty rates, Putin is paying a high price for his decision to invade. The Russian Army moved into the Crimea in February 2014, and fighting began with Ukrainian forces in the Donbas that April. The casual factors that Putin has been successful in hiding until now are becoming readily apparent, and a peace recessions looks like it would probably result in Putin's forced military collapse. It is thought that the reasons Putin would not want a ceasefire are that it would confirm the values of the international order, which he loathes, and second, would make it difficult for him to expand his military objectives in fighting in Syria, where he supports President Assad.
World Leaders Land in Hiroshima for G7 Meeting, With Ukraine War High on Agenda
Diplomat
23-05-18 16:50
Leaders from the G7 countries have arrived in Hiroshima for a meeting where Russia's war in Ukraine is expected to be high on the agenda. Ahead of talks with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Thursday, US President Joe Biden remarked: "When our countries stand together, we stand stronger, and I believe the whole world is safer when we do.” Discussions regarding the battlefield in Ukraine and the state of play on sanctions are expected. Meanwhile, G7 leaders and guests from countries are also expected to discuss how to deal with the military buildup and growing assertiveness of China.
The US has overestimated the value of the weapons it has sent to Ukraine by $3bn as a result of assigning a higher than warranted value on weaponry that was taken from US stocks. This calculation may lead the way for further weaponry to be sent to Kyiv and could delay the Biden administration's need to seek additional funds for Ukraine, amid the country's intensifying debt ceiling fight. Since August 2021, Washington has sent about $21.1bn worth of weaponry to Ukraine across 37 Presidential Drawdown Authority packages, including High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launchers and Javelin anti-tank weapons.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics have suggested that the Conservative levelling up agenda has failed after data revealed that almost the whole of Britain outside of London suffered a downturn following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The findings showed that economic output in six out of nine English regions fell in the three months to September last year, with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales also all suffering a contraction or stagnation.
Footage has emerged allegedly showing that a Ukrainian tank fired at Russian positions in Bakhmut, Ukraine, after using a drone to locate them. This came as the Ukrainian military claimed to have made further gains in one of the most fiercely contested front line cities. The area is estimated to have shifted by 7.7 square miles.
The Biden administration is reportedly hesitant to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, and has also refused to authorise Western allies training Ukrainian pilots on the aircraft. The decision is at odds with Europe's stance on the matter, with Rishi Sunak announcing the creation of an international coalition of countries that would aim to provide F-16s, and Belgium saying it would train Ukrainian pilots. Washington is concerned over the cost of the aircraft, along with the potential technology loss. The decision on supplying Ukraine with F-16s is up to the White House, with the UK saying the supply "was not a straightforward thing".
A former commander of the Russian military group Wagner has said he would like to return to Russia, even though he fears for his life if he does so. Andrei Medvedev escaped Russia to seek asylum in Norway in January, saying he was fleeing the mistreatment of Russian prisoners and feared for his life. However, he has now said he wants to return. Medvedev was convicted in Norway in April of being involved in a bar fight and carrying an air gun.
