Latest news with #KyivPost
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Most NATO armies likely 'could not meet Ukrainian standards' in combat effectiveness, retired US Army general says
A retired US Army general said it's most of NATO, not Ukraine, that has to learn from the other about combat. Ret. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges was asked in a video interview with the Kyiv Post, published on Tuesday, about what Ukraine's NATO allies could do to help Kyiv's military reach Western standards. But Hodges flipped the question on its head. "Well, actually, it's not about meeting Western standards. Most NATO armies could not meet Ukrainian standards, in terms of actual combat effectiveness," said Hodges, who was the US Army's commanding general in Europe from 2014 to 2017. Hodges highlighted what he said was a gap in NATO capabilities, such as poor cohesion among fighting units from different member states. "We still cannot communicate securely with British or German units," Hodges said. "So I think the Ukrainians kind of look down their noses at us a little bit, you know, when they hear us go: 'We're going to come help train you.'" "We should be begging them to help us learn how to do what they're doing," he continued. NATO said in May that it has trained roughly 192,000 Ukrainian personnel so far. Some were sent to NATO sites to learn how to use Western equipment. At least a dozen brigades were also directly instructed outside Ukraine on tactics and maneuvers by European and American military trainers. Some units have criticized parts of that training, saying there were gaps between what they were taught and the battlefield's realities. The dominant use of cheap hobby drones as deadly weapons, for example, is a new development that's changed the face of war. In his interview, Hodges also cited Kyiv's naval operations in the Black Sea as an example of what NATO forces could learn. "They have shown the entire world that you can defeat a conventional navy, at least in an enclosed body of water like the Black Sea, without having to have capital ships of your own. Lots for us to learn there," he said. "That may not apply in the Atlantic Ocean, but certainly in the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, these kinds of things. I hope we are paying attention," Hodges added. Romania and Bulgaria, he said, could benefit from building up fleets of uncrewed vessels the way Ukraine created and used its own to counter Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Hodges said he was also impressed by Ukraine's integrated air and missile defense to give it a clear picture of all the incoming aerial threats it's facing at any given time, such as fighter jets, missiles, or drones. "The Ukrainians have developed that for themselves. I would want to be confident that we have a shared picture between them, Poland, Baltic countries, Germany, the US, Romania, for example, Turkey," he said. He said the right system would help prevent NATO states from using the wrong weapons to take down targets. "You're not going to waste Patriots on drones," Hodges said. In February, NATO inaugurated a department in Poland called the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center. The alliance said the center would focus on gleaning lessons from the war in Ukraine to "better position NATO's deterrence." Meanwhile, Hodges said that Ukraine does have to learn how to reshape its military as an institution. Much of the country's forces were built on a Soviet organizational culture that Ukrainian troops frequently bemoan as a source of poor decision-making and unnecessary bureaucracy. "That means that the government has got to earn the confidence of the people," Hodges said. "That their sons or daughters will not get sent off to the war until they are properly trained, properly equipped, and put into a well-trained, ready unit."
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Without fanfare, Trump quietly approves $30 million more in arms for Ukraine amid rising global tensions
New Arms Transfer Comes Amid Congressional Scrutiny Ukraine Aid Freeze and Reversal Tied to Ceasefire Talks Trump Administration's Quiet Approval of $242 Million For Aid Live Events Lawmakers Push for Transparency and Action FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel US president Donald Trump's administration has quietly informed Congress of its approval for a new arms transfer to Ukraine, valued at approximately $30 million, reported Kyiv approval of the proposed transfer of 'major defense equipment' came as US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth completed his multi-day spree of testimony on Capitol Hill, with the aim to convince lawmakers that the current administration continued to 'send presidential drawdown authorities' (PDA) to Ukraine without offering further details, reported Kyiv Post.A Trump administration official, who is part of the Executive Branch's communications with Congress, told Kyiv Post that US military aid for Ukraine under the Arms Export Control Act 'has not stopped despite brief interruptions earlier this year," as per the to the report, Trump had frozen all military aid to Ukraine in March and then lifted the block shortly afterwards, following ceasefire talks in Saudi the Trump administration had also quietly approved another $242 million proposed arms transfer for Ukraine last month, reported Kyiv Post, citing Hegseth was asked by Democrat Senator Chris Coons (D-CT) why the administration was not using the previously approved remaining $3.8 billion in PDA to send additional air defense capabilities to Kyiv, during a Senate committee hearing, he said that the flow of weapons from earlier commitments was continuing but did not give any other details, as per the told the Pentagon head that 'We should not be pursuing a ceasefire and a negotiated resolution to the war in Ukraine at any cost,' adding, 'Peace through strength means actually using our strength, continuing to support Ukraine and securing a lasting peace. Putin will only stop when we stop him, and the best way to stop him is indeed through a stronger NATO,' quoted Kyiv latest approved package is valued at around $30 million and includes what's described as 'major defense equipment.'No, despite a brief pause in March, aid has resumed. An official said support under US arms laws continues.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Watch moment Russian fighter jet crashes after WING fell off during air raid mission on Ukraine
The pilot survived the crash with a broken arm CRASH & BURN Watch moment Russian fighter jet crashes after WING fell off during air raid mission on Ukraine THIS is the dramatic moment a wing falls off a £15 million Russian warplane during a frontline mission over Ukraine's Donetsk region. The pilot miraculously cheated death by ejecting before the Su-25 aircraft came tumbling to the ground. Advertisement 3 A attack aircraft begins to spin uncontrollably over Soledar Credit: East2West 3 White smoke and flames are seen as the warplane falls to the ground Credit: East2West 3 Pictured are the fighter pilot and parachute (circled), the aircraft in flames, the aircraft's right wing tumbling to the ground (right) Credit: East2West In the shocking video, the doomed warplane is seen spinning as it falls out of the sky above the Ukrainian city of Soledar. The Russian aircraft's right wing is seen detached from the warplane, which bursts into flames and crashes into a field. A fighter pilot is also visible, held up by a parachute. It was initially assumed the Su-25 had been shot down. Advertisement Ukrainian media claimed the aircraft may have been downed by 'friendly fire' - an unguided missile from its partner plane. Others suggested the cause may have been heat trap flares and possible missiles from the Su-25. But given that there appears to be no giant explosion, which would be expected in the instance of a direct missile hit, experts on both sides now have a different theory. Russia's Su-25 fleet is outdated - averaging over 40 years old - and have experienced multiple technical failures in the past, as reported by the Kyiv Post. Advertisement The pilot was reportedly rescued by Russian forces on the ground while under fire from Ukrainian drones. An Mi-8 helicopter arrived at the crash site and evacuated him. Night of hell for Ukraine as Putin launches 315 drones in one of biggest strikes of war sparking huge inferno in Kyiv Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber cited 'destruction of the wing' as the cause of the crash. "The pilot is in the hospital with a broken arm," the channel wrote. Advertisement It added: 'A commission will investigate what went wrong and determine who is to blame.' Ukraine has not released an official statement about this incident. The visible 'missiles' may be unignited heat trap flares designed to distract heat-seeking missiles away from the aircraft's engines, according to some sources. Ukraine's Militarniy media outlet ruled out the possibilities of friendly fire and an exploding missile. Advertisement The channel said: 'The third possible reason is a defect in the aircraft's power structure that arose due to prolonged intensive use of the aircraft in combat operations or a manufacturing defect. 'This hypothesis is supported by the fact that the wing broke off at the moment of the turn, when it is subjected to the greatest loads. 'Another indirect confirmation may be that the operation of Russian attack aircraft, whose average age reaches 40 years, is associated with a significant number of emergency situations.' Ukrainian war analyst Yury Butusov backed this theory, saying: 'At first it seems that it was shot down by its own pilot, the pilot of another aircraft. Advertisement 'However, when viewed in slow motion, one can conclude that the Su-25's wing failed due to excessive overload and exhaustion of the attack aircraft's resources.' The Su-25 is a Soviet, twin-engine, single-seat aircraft developed by Sukhoi in the late 1970s.
News18
11-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Ukraine Offers Civilians Rs 2 Lakh A Month To Shoot Down Russian Drones
Last Updated: Ukraine to pay civilians ₹2.2 lakh a month for shooting down Russian drones under new program. Ukraine will pay civilians up to 100,000 hryvnias (around ₹2.2 lakh or $2,400) a month to shoot down Russian drones as part of a new volunteer program approved by the government, Ukrainian news agency Kyiv Post said in a report. The initiative, proposed by the Ministry of Defence, was cleared by the Cabinet of Ministers and announced by government representative Taras Melnychuk on Telegram. The payments will come from local budgets and the scheme will operate during martial law for a maximum period of two years. Drones have become central to both Russian and Ukrainian strategy, employed for surveillance, kamikaze strikes and air-defence suppression. Russia extensively deploys Iranian-made Shahed kamikazes to target Ukrainian infrastructure and energy grids, launching hundreds in waves that disable power systems and disrupt lives. Ukraine, in turn, fields an expanding drone arsenal. Drones such as Turkish Bayraktar TB2s and homegrown FPV and AI-enabled models like those in 'Operation Spiderweb" are capable of deep strikes on Russian bases, fuel depots, ammunition stores and airfields. The new Ukrainian drone defense program will enlist trained volunteers and members of paramilitary and territorial defense units with drone operation skills. Under the government-backed scheme, these recruits will help counter Russian aerial threats by spotting, tracking, and shooting down enemy drones using UAVs, firearms, or piloted aircraft. Ukraine said it had received the bodies of more than 1,200 soldiers, handed over by Moscow, part of a repatriation deal the two sides agreed at talks last week. Russia has fired record numbers of drones and missiles at Ukraine over recent weeks, escalating three years of daily bombardments as it outlines hardline demands — rejected by Kyiv as 'ultimatums" — to halt its three-year invasion. The northeastern city of Kharkiv, just 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the Russian border, again bore the brunt of the attack. First Published: June 11, 2025, 23:40 IST
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
06-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
As Putin bombs Kyiv, Ukraine strikes Russian airbases & defence production plant
After Russia bombarded Kyiv and other cities, Ukraine said that it struck two airbases, an oil refinery, and a defence production plant in Russia in the latest round of attacks on strategic targets in the country. read more A fuel depot on fire in Ukraine's drone attack in Russia's city of Engels on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Photo: United 24 Media/Ukrainian government) After Vladimir Putin's latest barrage on Ukrainian cities on Thursday night, Ukraine on Friday said that it struck two Russian airbases and an oil refinery. Even as Ukraine and Russia are holding direct talks in Turkey, they are locked in a cycle of violence. For weeks, Russia has attacked Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles on a near-daily basis. In the latest such strikes, Ukraine on Friday said it struck Russia's Dyagilevo airbase near Moscow and an airbase and an oil depot in Saratov region. An official said that a defence plant was also struck in the Tambov province. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The strikes were reported after Russia attacked Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv , with hundreds of drones and missiles. Ukrainian officials said at least four people were killed in the attack and dozens were injured. On Sunday, Ukraine had attacked five airbases in Russia with drones and destroyed nearly a third of the country's long-range, nuclear-capable bombers and surveillance aircraft. ALSO READ: Operation Spider Web hands Ukraine 'cards' to play with at negotiation table As Russian leader Putin vowed to respond to the attack in a call with US President Donald Trump, it is not clear if last night's Russian strikes comprised that retaliation or were part of regular attacks that Russia has been mounting lately. Ukraine targeted bombers' base, defence production plant The Engels airfield that Ukraine struck housed Russia's bomber aircraft, according to Kyiv Post. While AFP did not mention the type of aircraft, it quoted the Ukrainian military as saying that the Engels aircraft housed 'a place of concentration of enemy aircraft'. As for the Dyagilevo airbase near Moscow, the military said that 'refuelling and escort' jets are based there that aid Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine. The military further said that it struck 'at least three fuel and oil tanks' in Saratov. ALSO READ: With Russia's terms to Ukraine, Putin seeks surrender — not a peace deal Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukrainian government's Center for Countering Disinformation, told Kyiv Post that drones attacked an oil depot in Engels and the Progress defense plant in Michurinsk in Tambov province. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kovalenko said that the Progress plant a key part of Russia's military-industrial complex and its destruction would be a significant blow to the country's defense production. The newspaper reported that the plant specialises in the production of high-precision electronic equipment used for targeting, stabilisation, and fire control for artillery and rocket lunch systems. The plant also produces components for automated command and control systems.
