Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid News
Table of Contents 📖
"Choosing between helping Kyiv and keeping air defenses allies must choose Ukraine"
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:47⏩
Jonathan welcomes everyone to the channel and explains that this is the second part of his Ukraine War Update for 18/04/2024. He won't discuss the US Military Aid Bill in detail in this video as it's been covered in a previous video (approximately an hour long!)
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US Military Aid Bill - Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and NATO's Stance
🎦 00:47-04:13⏩
The US military think tank, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), warns that Russia is gaining the initiative on the battlefield. It believes that Ukraine cannot hold its lines without a rapid resumption of US Aid. NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, states that when it comes to air defence systems, NATO allies must choose to support Ukraine over protecting themselves. There are less than 100 Patriot batteries in Europe, but NATO as a whole has a significant number. The US has global responsibilities. Jonathan believes that as Russia is the biggest threat to Europe, any spare air defences should be given to Ukraine. Jonathan agrees with Stoltenberg's view that NATO countries should prioritise supplying weapons to Ukraine over meeting the two percent of GDP spending target.
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Ukraine confirms Jankoi Strike Success
🎦 04:14-06:13⏩
News has come out about the strike on Jankoi and it has caused more damage than initially thought. Colby Badwar reported that a rare Fundament M, a high level IMDS command and control asset which links all air defence assets into one network, has been destroyed. The Ukrainian Defence Ministry has officially announced the destruction of 4 x S400 air defence launchers, 3 x radar detection systems, an air defence command and control centre, and the Fundament M. Colby Badwar highlights how effective Ukrainian strikes are and speculates on the damage that could be inflicted if they had access to the 1200 expired ATACMS missiles from the US Army. Jonathan believes that if Ukraine could use these missiles against Russian targets, the war would be simple to win.
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Ammo Shortages impacting Ukraine's HIMARS strikes
🎦 06:13-07:52⏩
Ammunition shortages are impacting the effectiveness of Ukraine's HIMARS with soldiers having to bypass viable targets, according to US veteran reports in Business Insider. Ukraine has become more selective with its targets for both artillery and HIMARS, which gives Russia an advantage.
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Slovakians crowdfund €1m for ammunition for Ukraine
🎦 07:52-09:45⏩
Slovakians have defied their pro-Russian prime minister, Robert Fico, by launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise €1 million for ammunition for Ukraine. The campaign has been aligned with an international initiative led by Czech Republic. Susanna Isakova, of the Bratislava based 'My Ukraine' initiative confirmed that Slovakians wanted to help and show that it's not only the government who can make decisions. Slovakians donated over €1.2 million in three days. The first deliveries from the Czech initiative are expected in June. Jonathan explains in detail why this is taking so long. It involves sourcing the ammunition, negotiating with multiple countries, getting pledges for funding, waiting for the money to be transferred and quality checks, all before it can be delivered to Ukraine.
Germany to send IRIS-T System to Ukraine
🎦 09:45-14:13⏩
Another IRIS-T system will arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks. German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, in Kyiv at the moment, confirmed that three systems are already in Ukraine and more are expected this year. Jonathan doesn't believe this is over and above what was already promised. Germany has launched a new air defence initiative appealing to the EU and NATO allies to secure more air defences for Ukraine. In the meantime, David Frum, a former Republican speechwriter has called for NATO warehouses to be emptied. Thomas Tyler, responding to Gary Kasparov's comments about the number of Patriot batteries in NATO warehouses, stated that the majority are in the US, but Raytheon could easily replace a dozen fire units within the next 12 months.
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Netherlands to buy Patriot systems from hesitant allies
🎦 14:13-17:33⏩
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said that the Netherlands has offered to buy Patriot air defence systems from more hesitant allies, according to the Guardian. Rutte highlighted that many countries have Patriot systems that they are reluctant to send to Ukraine. The Netherlands will buy the systems from them and send them on to Ukraine. Rutte confirmed that they had the money available and that this was crucial. No Report confirmed that the Netherlands has four Patriot Batteries, one of which is in reserve. Rutte had previously stated that sending another system would put them below their minimum operational readiness and international obligations. NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg dismissed this argument, urging Denmark and Czech Republic to send any spare systems to Ukraine.
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Netherlands send 3 x F-16s to Romania for Ukrainian Pilot training.
🎦 17:33-19:28⏩
Jonathan abandons a discussion about French Aid and moves on to some breaking news. The Netherlands will send 3 more F-16s to Romania for Ukrainian pilot training. The Dutch armed forces have delivered 3 F-16s to the European F-16 training centre in Romania. This is part of an international effort with Denmark and the US to bolster Ukraine's air defence capabilities by training Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 fighter jets. Jonathan speculates on whether this is part of the training programme for Ukrainian pilots, who first went to the UK, then France and now Romania for F-16 training. He is unsure whether experienced pilots are also being retrained.
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Bulgaria's BTR-60s are being Modernised
🎦 19:28-20:26⏩
Jonathan is pleased to announce that the 100 x BTR-60s supplied by Bulgaria, are being modernised. The BTR-60s, which date back to the 1960s, will be fitted with new engines, doors, a thermal night vision system, and additional Armox 500t armour plates. They are also being treated to a 'pixelated' camouflage paint job.
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Ukraine increases production of 'Bogdana' Howitzers
🎦 20:26-21:13⏩
Ukraine has increased its manufacturing capacity of the 'Bogdana' self-propelled howitzer to 10 per month. This is good news as it means Ukraine is becoming less reliant on Western military aid.
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Ukraine adapts South African 'Bomber' vehicle
🎦 21:13-22:49⏩
Ukraine has presented a new combat vehicle based on the South African 'Bomber' six by six vehicle. The vehicle, developed by a Ukrainian enterprise, weighs 16 tons, has STANAG 4569 standard level 3 protection. It offers resistance against 7.62 x 51 calibre armour piercing rounds and offers mine protection against 10kg TNT explosions. It will be fitted with a Ukrainian made 'Spears' combat module equipped with a 130mm automatic cannon, a 30mm automatic grenade launcher, a 7.62mm twin machine gun, and two 'Barrier' anti-tank missiles. Jonathan is impressed with the offensive and defensive capabilities.
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Explosion at BAE Systems in Wales
🎦 22:49-23:30⏩
Breaking News: Colby Badwar reports an explosion at a BAE systems 155mm artillery shell filling facility in Glascoed, Wales. This follows a fire two days ago at the Scranton Army Ammunition plant in Pennsylvania. Jonathan hopes this is not a sign of Russian sabotage. BAE confirmed to 'The Sun' that there were no injuries.
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Lagarde rejects proposal to use frozen Russian assets
🎦 23:30-25:46⏩
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, has rejected a US backed proposal to use more than $260 billion of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's war effort, due to international law and financial market stability concerns. The US only has access to $3 Billion of the assets. The majority are in Brussels and Japan. The US supports confiscating the reserves in their entirety and handing them over to Ukraine, but EU countries would prefer to only use the profits generated, with the G7 split on what to do. Jonathan believes the issue is a legal minefield with far-reaching consequences. He believes that it's easier to use the profits generated than risk legal action from Russia.
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Wrap up
🎦 25:46-25:51⏩
Jonathan thanks viewers for watching and asks them to like, subscribe and share. He reminds them that there's lots more content coming out.
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