Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid News
Table of Contents 📖
"He is someone who's flip-flopped a little bit on Ukraine...he was kind of held in check by Trump"
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:31⏩
Jonathan Pearce introduces the video as the first part of the Ukraine War Update for 13th August 2024. He explains this will be a shorter video as he is out on an excursion. Today's video will focus on Military Aid.
Return to top⤴️
US Senator Lindsey Graham visits Kyiv with positive news for Ukraine
🎦 00:31-03:23⏩
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, has visited Kyiv, meeting with President Zelensky. Jonathan notes Graham’s previous stance on aid to Ukraine, influenced by Trump's position during the 7-month Congressional impasse. Graham’s visit brings three key points to the forefront.
- Firstly, he advocates for a formal invitation for Ukraine to join NATO by the year's end.
- Secondly, Graham anticipates another substantial aid package for Ukraine in December, highlighting the economic benefits for the US in terms of employment, tax revenue, and research and development opportunities based on battlefield data.
- Lastly, and perhaps most significantly, Graham, with Zelensky's endorsement, announces a call for retired F-16 pilots from NATO nations to volunteer their services to Ukraine. This initiative aims to address the shortage of trained Ukrainian pilots while the training of their own pilots is underway. Jonathan acknowledges the previous discussions on the potential for such a “mercenary unit” of experienced pilots and hails it as incredible news.
British donated Stormer HVM proving highly effective in Ukraine
🎦 03:23-04:11⏩
Jonathan reports on the exceptional performance of the British-donated Stormer HVM (High Velocity Missile) system in Ukraine. This short-range air defence system, equipped with Starstreak missiles, has been instrumental in neutralizing aerial threats. Ukrainian crews operating a single donated system have successfully downed 70 drones, demonstrating its effectiveness. Jonathan highlights the Stormer's significance, particularly in countering drone warfare.
Return to top⤴️
Germany confirms Ukraine's right to defend itself beyond its borders
🎦 04:11-05:05⏩
Germany has indirectly confirmed its support for Ukraine’s recent incursion into Russia's Kursk region. While declining to divulge specifics about the operation, a German government spokesman acknowledged it was prepared covertly and without prior consultation with Berlin. Echoing the US stance, Germany maintains that the sole requirement for weapons supplied by them is adherence to international law, which Ukraine is deemed to be following. Significantly, a German Foreign Office spokesperson articulated that Ukraine's defence is not confined to its own territory, providing implicit endorsement for cross-border operations. This statement aligns with similar confirmations from the US, bolstering Ukraine’s position. Jonathan views this as positive news, underscoring the international acceptance of Ukraine’s actions within Kursk.
Return to top⤴️
EU Provides €2 Million for Humanitarian Demining in Ukraine
🎦 05:05-05:35⏩
In a humanitarian gesture, the EU has pledged €2 million towards demining efforts in Ukraine. The initiative will deploy 16 Belgian Malinois dogs alongside eight Ukrainian handlers to detect and clear explosives in liberated areas, including Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Kharkiv regions, which have been heavily impacted by the war. Jonathan expresses gratitude to Belgium for their contribution to this crucial task.
Return to top⤴️
Russia Adapts Su-24 Bombers Due to Su-34 Losses
🎦 05:35-06:23⏩
Evidence has emerged of Russia resorting to modifying older Su-24 frontline bombers to accommodate glide modules for FAB-500 bombs. This adaptation, as suggested by Ukrainian sources, stems from the depletion of Russia's modern Su-34 bomber fleet due to battlefield losses. Jonathan highlights a user comment from 'PS01' - “Who thought that Russian resources were infinite?”. Jonathan suggests this adaptation underscores the effectiveness of Ukrainian air defence in inflicting significant losses on the more advanced Su-34s, compelling Russia to rely on older, less capable aircraft. This development is seen as a positive indicator of Ukraine's impact on the battlefield.
Return to top⤴️
Russia Develops 'Koschei' Heavy Lift Drone: A Counter to Ukraine's 'Baba Yaga'
🎦 06:23-07:11⏩
Jonathan discusses Russia’s development of the 'Koschei' drone, a prototype heavy-lift drone designed to rival Ukraine’s formidable 'Baba Yaga' drones. This new drone boasts a payload capacity of 40 to 80 kilograms and a range of up to 40 kilometers. Notably, Russia asserts that the Koschei is built entirely from domestically sourced components, potentially mitigating their reliance on foreign technology. Jonathan highlights the significance of Ukraine's successful deployment of 'Baba Yaga' drones, particularly in their role as bombers and for transporting supplies on the battlefield. He expresses concern about the potential impact of the Koschei, acknowledging that if Russia's claims about its capabilities and domestic production prove accurate, it could pose a challenge to Ukraine's drone warfare advantage.
Return to top⤴️
Russia Claims New Interceptor Drone Can Reach Speeds of 300km/h
🎦 07:11-08:40⏩
Continuing the theme of Russian drone development, Jonathan discusses reports, attributed to a user comment from 'Roy', of a new Russian prototype interceptor drone capable of reaching speeds of 300 kilometers per hour. Armed with four pellet cartridges, the drone purportedly possesses automatic search and target recognition capabilities. Jonathan speculates that this drone is likely intended to target and neutralize other drones using its shotgun-like weaponry, and suggests that if genuine, its development and deployment could have implications for drone warfare in the conflict.
Return to top⤴️
Wrap Up
🎦 08:40-08:51⏩
Jonathan concludes the video, anticipating a longer than usual gap until his next update due to his excursion. He bids farewell to his viewers, expressing his apologies for the shorter video.
Return to top⤴️
