Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid News

"I wonder whether...he's just being fed such disinformation by those below him who want to cushion reality...cushion him from reality"

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-00:09⏩

Jonathan welcomes everyone to the channel for part two of the Ukraine War Update for the 9th of August 2024, apologising for any background noise from a nearby pool party.

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USA announces $125m Military Aid Package for Ukraine

🎦 00:09-03:17⏩

Jonathan discusses the announcement by US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken of a new package of military aid for Ukraine, worth $125 million, from US stocks. He notes the timing, suggesting that although the package may have been planned for some time, its announcement following the recent Ukrainian incursion into Kursk could be seen as validation for the attack. The package includes a range of munitions and equipment, including: Stinger missiles, ammunition for HIMARS, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, multi-mission radars, TOW missiles for Bradleys, Javelins, 84 anti-armour systems, Humvee ambulances, small arms ammunition, demolition equipment, equipment to protect critical national infrastructure, spare parts, training and transportation. Jonathan highlights that the package, although seemingly routine, contains vital equipment and comes at a time when there appears to be an increase in Ukrainian use of HIMARS.

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Lithuania to send €5m worth of combat drones to Ukraine

🎦 03:17-04:01⏩

Lithuania announces a new military aid package for Ukraine, which includes combat drones worth €5 million, chosen following tests by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence to identify the most suitable models. The package also includes: 14 M113 APCs, short-range air defence systems and ammunition, electronic warfare systems, all-terrain vehicles and spare parts, trailer loaders, rifles, ammunition, and smoke charges. Jonathan praises Lithuania’s continuing support, given its relatively small size.

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Germany gives Ukraine the green light to use German-supplied weapons in Kursk

🎦 04:01-06:25⏩

Jonathan reports that the German Bundestag’s Defence Committee has confirmed that Ukraine has permission to use German-supplied weapons, including armoured vehicles such as Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles, within Russia. This follows reports that German equipment has been sighted in the Kursk region. Jonathan notes that this is not the first time German equipment has been used to strike Russian territory, citing the downing of five aircraft in the Bryansk region in May 2023 using the German Patriot air defence system. Jonathan argues that this decision is in line with previous authorisations dating back to May 2024 and criticises the German government’s reluctance to be seen to support such action, suggesting that they are overly concerned about historical perceptions of Germany’s relationship with Russia. He argues that Germany should adopt a more forward-looking stance and accept that Ukraine has the right to determine how best to use the weapons it has been given.

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Germany: Rheinmetall to supply eight field hospitals to Ukraine

🎦 06:25-07:03⏩

Jonathan reports that the Ukrainian Defence Ministry has commissioned German defence company, Rheinmetall, to supply eight field hospitals. Each turnkey facility will comprise advanced medical technology, including an X-ray container and an operating room. Jonathan highlights that similar facilities have previously been supplied by the Netherlands and other nations and their value to the Ukrainian armed forces.

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Bulgaria to train Ukrainian soldiers as part of NATO initiative

🎦 07:03-08:00⏩

Jonathan reports that the Bulgarian government has authorised its armed forces to train Ukrainian soldiers under the auspices of NATO. Jonathan welcomes Bulgaria’s participation, noting the importance of keeping countries like Bulgaria within the NATO and EU spheres of influence to prevent them being drawn towards Russia’s orbit. He highlights the potential for Bulgaria to align more closely with Russia, suggesting that the country's president is known to be pro-Russian.

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Ukraine's Ukroboronprom joins the Top 50 global defence companies

🎦 08:00-08:37⏩

Jonathan reports that Ukrainian state-owned defence company, Ukroboronprom, has been ranked among the top 50 global defence companies for the first time. The announcement was made by Ukraine's Strategic Industries Minister, Oleksandr Kamyshin.

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Russia: Shortage of assault troops leads to deployment of specialists to front line

🎦 08:37-13:18⏩

Jonathan discusses a report from Russian sources which indicates that Russian soldiers with specialist skills, such as tank drivers, drone operators, and even anaesthesiologists, are being deployed to the front lines to serve as assault troops. This is attributed to severe shortages in assault troop numbers, highlighting the strain on Russian resources. The report, by Russian military blogger, Anastasia Kashevarova, highlights the problem of transferring highly skilled personnel to front-line combat roles where they are often killed within a very short time. She argues that this is a wasteful use of valuable resources and is due to commanders feeling pressured to provide fresh troops for assaults, potentially because they are misrepresenting the true casualty figures to their superiors. Jonathan suggests that the deployment of specialists to plug gaps in front-line troop numbers is indicative of a wider fragility within the Russian military, despite recent gains on the eastern front. He questions whether Putin is fully aware of the true situation on the ground, suggesting that the Russian leader may be subject to a degree of shielding from reality by his subordinates.

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Russia: Loss of drone superiority blamed on outdated military thinking

🎦 13:18-22:07⏩

Jonathan reports on claims from Russian military commentators that Russia is losing its technological edge in the drone war with Ukraine, attributing this to inflexible, outdated military thinking and an over-reliance on a small number of well-connected state contractors. He cites a commentary from the pro-Russian Telegram channel, Chronicle of a Drone Operator, which argues that Russia has focussed on standardisation and simplification, based on outdated military thinking that favours mass production of basic equipment, such as the Kalashnikov assault rifle, over innovation and adaptability. By contrast, the commentary notes that Ukraine, with its younger leadership, is more in tune with modern warfare and has embraced the benefits of an agile, decentralised approach, which utilises the skills of start-ups, volunteer engineers, and private companies. This has led to a diverse and constantly evolving range of drones and associated technologies. Jonathan, citing the work of other pro-Russian commentators such as Roman Alehkine and the Russian Engineer channel, highlights the systemic problems inherent in the Russian approach, which prioritises loyalty and cost-cutting over expertise and innovation, and stifles creativity and initiative. This is contrasted with the dynamism and responsiveness of the Ukrainian system. Jonathan suggests that this fundamental difference in approach is the key factor behind Ukraine’s success in the drone war, arguing that even if Russia was able to match Ukraine’s drone production capacity, the quality and effectiveness of their drones would be far lower due to the systemic shortcomings inherent in their system.

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Iran to supply Russia with satellite-guided missiles

🎦 22:07-24:46⏩

Jonathan reports that Iran is preparing to send “hundreds” of satellite-guided missiles to Russia, according to Reuters. It’s suggested that dozens of Russian military personnel are currently being trained by Iran on the use of the Fateh-360 ballistic missile system, raising concerns that Iran could be preparing to supply Russia with more advanced ballistic missiles. Jonathan expresses concern about this development, suggesting that it could explain Russia’s recent restraint in using large-scale missile attacks against Ukraine. He speculates that Russia is facing difficulties in producing missiles in sufficient quantities and is looking to Iran to bolster its stocks.

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Wrap up

🎦 24:46-24:56⏩

Jonathan concludes the video, promising a short geopolitics update to follow.

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