Ukraine Drone Attack On Russian Navy, Javelin Missile Strike On Russian Tank

Russia hit Ukraine with more deadly drone and missile attacks Wednesday near Kyiv and in Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian officials say. There were seven people killed and nine injured in a drone attack on two dormitories and an educational facility in Rzishev, 40 miles south of Kyiv, regional police chief Andriy Nebytov said on his Telegram channel Wednesday. One child is among the injured, Nebytov wrote, adding that there were also a dozen drones shot down. In Zaporizhzhia, at least one person was killed and 25 injured, including two children, in a direct missile strike on a high-rise building, Zaporizhzhia City Council Secretary Anatoly Kurdiev said on his Telegram channel. New video shows likely Ukraine drone attack on Russian Navy. Though it's about 140 miles from the front lines, the city of Sevastopol on the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula came under another Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessel, USV, and aerial drone attack Wednesday, according to Russian government officials and media and a Ukrainian Telegram channel. Video emerging on social media showed a large explosion, what appeared to be an object near the entrance to the harbor, possibly a USV, and the response of Russian air defenses to the aerial drones. The video above shows what appears to be Russian defenses shooting it into the sky and at the water's surface. A trace around can be seen fired toward the surface at the 15-second mark. A second later, it appears to ricochet at a steep angle and then strike something, likely an object on shore or a ship, that results in a large explosion. We have to stress that this is what the video appears to show. Its low quality and the low light setting could hide other details that could make the ricochet then explosion a coincidence, with the blast brought on by a form of attack or by successfully engaging an explosive-laden drone boat. There were videos showing other angles of the incident posted on social media as well. While it is unclear what damage was caused in this latest attack, it is likely to further increase tension on the peninsula, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014 and targeted for liberation by Ukrainian officials. According to one Russian media outlet, maritime transportation around Sevastopol was stopped as a result of the attack. Russian Ka-52 crashed in Ukraine A Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter crashed in the occupied part of Ukraine. Footage featuring the crash site of the destroyed aircraft was published on social media. It is reported that the helicopter of the Russian Aerospace Forces was destroyed while not participating in hostilities. Presumably, on March 16, the Ka-52 caught a power line and crashed. The deaths of Russian pilots are also confirmed. One dead pilot has already been identified. According to data from the Russian contact social media, he turned out to be Roman Filatov, born in 1994. He was an officer of the Russian 55th Separate Helicopter Regiment. As previously reported, Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters are shot down quite often over Ukraine. There were also cases when Russian air defenses shot down their own Ka-52s over Ukraine. Last December in the Zaporizhia region, the Russian air defense shot down its own Ka-52 helicopter. Video Shows Himars Rockets Blasting Russia Video footage shared on social media this week shows the M-142 Himars multiple rocket launcher in action in Ukraine. The video footage shows the Lockheed Martin weapon parked in the middle of a road and appears to have been recorded by soldiers parked in a vehicle just dozens of feet away from the weapon. The rocket launcher, mounted onto a military truck, moves into position and then fires. As the first missile is fired, a huge ball of flames can be seen at the base of the launcher. The rocket launches and a large cloud of dust quickly engulfs both vehicles. As the dust begins to settle, the launcher folds back into the truck and the pod designed to hold six Atoms or GMLRS rockets can be seen at the system's rear. On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the latest round of aid for Ukraine. New Ukraine Video Shows Javelin Missile Strike on Russian Tank Twitter user SpecialCursonCat, who describes himself as someone who fled from their hometown of Kursan, Ukraine, has posted a telling piece of combat footage from the Russo-Ukraine war. In the video, posted initially on TikTok by Mukavahujapi, a Russian tank can be seen, from a high-altitude perspective, maneuvering near buildings, presumably in Kursan. The in-video caption reads the Russian tank fires in our direction and then, suggesting that the tank is firing. We cannot tell from the video if the tank is indeed firing, but what is evident from the video is that the tank is being fired upon. The tank reacts accordingly and bugs out, retreating from the buildings to flee through a nearby field. The evasive maneuvering is of no use, however. Very suddenly, the tank explodes and a column of gray smoke rises from view in the video. The tank sits, immobilized in the field. Presumably, the tank has been destroyed. According to SpecialCursonCat's caption, a javelin was used to destroy the tank. The FGM-148 javelin, or Advanced Anti-Tank Weapon System Medium, is an anti-tank system that one person can conveniently carry, making it super-portable. Made in America, the javelin has been in service for nearly three decades. One of the more remarkable statistics coming from the Russo-Ukraine war is the rate at which Russia is losing tanks and armored vehicles. According to Ukraine, whose numbers are likely inflated, Russia has lost 3,532 tanks. Less partisan sources, like Dutch outlet Oryx, count Russia's tank losses at just below 2,000. Whatever the exact number, the pattern is clear, Russia is losing tanks at an unsustainable rate. As the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates, Russia lost 50% of its pre-war tank fleet in just the first nine months of fighting. The SpecialCursonCat video is representative of Russia's significant tank attrition problem. As it continues to lose armor, Russia appears to be taking ancient T-54-55 tanks, the first prototype of which was completed in 1945, out of mothballs. It's unclear whether they may ever see combat in Ukraine, but examples do at least appear to be being brought back into service in some capacity. Ukraine's Abrams tanks boost is terrible news for Russia. Russian forces do not want to see Ukrainian armored formations coming at them with Abrams tanks as the United States Department of Defense commits to speeding up deliveries of its advanced main battle tanks. On Tuesday, the DoD said that Ukraine would receive M1A1 Abrams tanks, rather than the M1A2. This will mean the tanks can be delivered in the fall, faster than what was initially expected, the department added. The M1A1 tanks will have refurbished hulls from existing U.S. inventory stocks, but will have a very similar capability to the M1A2, Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder told reporters. Tanks sent to Ukraine will be fitted with a 120mm cannon and a .50 caliber heavy machine gun, as well as advanced armor, he told the media. These armaments are typically seen on the M1A2, often with a 7.62mm machine gun. The decision, made with the involvement of Kiev, will enable us to significantly expedite delivery timelines and deliver this important capability to Ukraine by the fall of this year, Ryder said. Military and technology expert Michael Peck told Newsweek that sending an older, simpler version of the Abrams is a logical first step in a long-term flow of American tanks to Ukraine. It will be easier for the Ukrainians to learn and maintain. The impact of the M1 tanks will also depend on when they arrive where they are needed, former U.S. Army Europe Commander, Lt. Gen. retired, Ben Hodges said. They are unlikely to benefit any Ukrainian armored counteroffensives taking place this summer, Hodges told Newsweek. However, there will be a sustained need for Abrams for any plans around Crimea, next phase operations and for future deterrence, he said. The Russians do not want to see Ukrainian armored formations coming at them with Abrams tanks, Hodges said, or to know that the U.S. is committed to long-term support of Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden announced the move to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in late January, enough to equip a Ukrainian tank battalion with the most capable tanks in the world. Ukrainian forces needed to be able to counter Russia's evolving tactics and strategy on the battlefield in the very near term, Biden said. Ahead of the announcement, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the donation of Abrams would be an absurdity, adding, these tanks burn just like all the others. Russia's response will be interesting, Peskov said. They might make a special effort to destroy an Abrams just for the propaganda value. However, if the total number of Abrams remains at 31, the value is more symbolic than practical, he added. Thank you for tuning in to our video. 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