Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid News

Okay, lots of these being signed as the lens gives in Europe yesterday, in Brussels doing all sorts of things to do with the EU, accession talks etc etc, but also lots of bilateral security agreements with many countries.

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-00:07⏩

Jonathan welcomes viewers to the second part of his 28th June 2024 Ukraine War Update and informs viewers that the video will cover Military Aid and Equipment news.

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Lithuania Signs a Security Agreement with Ukraine

🎦 00:07-00:48⏩

Lithuania have signed a security agreement to provide Ukraine with annual defence support amounting to 0.25% of GDP as well as modern military equipment for use on land, air and sea, and in space, cyber and electromagnetic spheres. A military training mission in Ukraine may also be resumed. Jonathan notes that if other countries followed Lithuania's example, Ukraine would have access to "phenomenal" amounts of equipment.

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Estonia Pledges €100 Million in Defence Aid to Ukraine

🎦 00:48-01:07⏩

Estonia has committed to providing at least 0.25% of its GDP annually to Ukraine from 2024 to 2027, as part of a new agreement to send defence aid totalling €100 Million in 2024. Jonathan believes that this may bring Estonia's total military aid contribution to Ukraine to over 2 Billion.

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Finland Announces €159 Million Military Aid Package for Ukraine

🎦 01:07-01:59⏩

Finland has announced its 24th military aid package for Ukraine, consisting of defence material valued at €159 Million. Jonathan notes that Finland do not often disclose details about the contents of their military aid packages for operational security reasons.

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Israel in Negotiations to Send Eight Patriot Systems to Ukraine

🎦 01:59-03:14⏩

Israel are in discussions with partners about sending eight Patriot missile systems (four originally from the US and four from Germany) to Ukraine. Jonathan highlights that whilst not as effective at shooting down ballistic missiles, the Patriot PAC-2 systems would be a significant asset to Ukraine as they have a longer range than the PAC-3 and would be effective at shooting down Russian aircraft that are being used to drop guided bombs on Ukrainian positions.

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Colby Babar Explains that Patriot Missile Batteries Supplied via Foreign Military Sales Usually Have Fewer Launchers

🎦 03:14-04:35⏩

Jonathan references a comment by OSINT expert Colby Babar (@ColbyBabar) who explains that Patriot missile batteries supplied to foreign militaries via arms sales typically consist of three to four launchers, as opposed to the six to eight found in US batteries. Babar explains that this is primarily due to cost considerations and the fact that most FMS customers do not have the same acquisition objectives and inventory requirements as the US. He cites Poland as an exception to this. Jonathan reflects that even with fewer launchers, the eight Patriot batteries would still be a huge boost for Ukraine.

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Spain Grants Ukraine Access to €50 Million in Recovery Funds

🎦 04:35-04:56⏩

Spain has agreed to grant Ukraine access to €50 Million in recovery funds: €1 Million to support Ukraine's private sector and €4.6 Million for humanitarian de-mining. Further agreements were made relating to energy, logistics and other economic sectors.

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Czech Republic Prime Minister Confirms Ammunition Initiative is Supplying Tens of Thousands of Artillery Shells to Ukraine Each Month

🎦 04:56-06:15⏩

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has confirmed that the Czech Republic's ammunition initiative will supply Ukraine with tens of thousands of artillery shells each month, in addition to the 50,000 shells already supplied. Jonathan calculates that 50,000 shells per month equates to approximately 1,666 shells per day, nearly the same as the UK's current estimated daily expenditure of artillery shells. This would mean that Ukraine could potentially receive nearly all of its daily artillery requirements from the Czech initiative, with any additional support from other countries (e.g. US, Germany, EU, UK, South Korea, Australia) providing a surplus.

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18 Countries Join Czech-Led Ammunition Initiative, with Initial Deliveries Funded by Germany

🎦 06:15-07:00⏩

Jonathan reveals that 18 countries have now joined the Czech-led ammunition initiative, with the first deliveries funded by Germany. He notes that the Czech Republic has contributed 865 Czech Koruna to the project, with the funds being used to procure ammunition from STV Group, the only Czech ammunition manufacturer. Jonathan speculates that the ammunition is being checked for quality control before being sent to Ukraine, due to concerns that many of the artillery shells arriving in the country from various sources are not safe to fire.

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EU Receives Increased Requests for Military Training from Ukraine, Indicating Successful Mobilisation

🎦 07:00-07:27⏩

Lieutenant General Andreas Marlow, head of the EU's Special Training Command Centre near Berlin, has confirmed that the EU has received an increase in requests from Ukraine for basic military training. Jonathan interprets this as a positive development, suggesting that it indicates that Ukraine's mobilisation efforts are proving successful.

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German Company Trasco Bremen Donates Nine Armoured Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs to Ukraine

🎦 07:27-08:05⏩

Jonathan reports that German company Trasco Bremen has donated nine armoured Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR SUVs to Ukraine's State Transport Special Service, with the support of the German government.

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Jonathan Describes Witnessing a US MaxPro MRAP Driving Through Intense Fighting in Chasiv Yar

🎦 08:05-08:31⏩

Jonathan digresses to recount witnessing a US MaxPro MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle successfully navigating through heavy fighting, including mortar and artillery bombardments, in Chasiv Yar. He notes that despite the front lines remaining relatively static in recent weeks, the fighting in the area is very intense and that Chasiv Yar has suffered extensive damage.

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RCH 155 Howitzer is not Fully Remote Controlled but Features a Fully Autonomous Loading System

🎦 08:31-09:46⏩

Jonathan clarifies that the German-made RCH 155 howitzer, which the UK is due to receive in cooperation with Germany, is not actually fully remote-controlled. However, he notes that the system's artillery gun module (AGM) is capable of fully autonomous loading of both shells and propellant charges and that plans are in place to implement autonomous driving functionality in the future. This would mean that the RCH 155 could potentially be operated without any personnel on board, although it currently requires a two-man crew. Jonathan argues that this makes the RCH 155 a highly efficient artillery system, as it reduces training requirements and minimises potential casualties in the event that a vehicle is destroyed.

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France to Supply Ukraine with Over 60 Caesar Howitzers by the Summer

🎦 09:46-11:20⏩

Jonathan reports that France is set to supply Ukraine with a total of 60 Caesar howitzers by the summer, exceeding the number currently in service with the French Army (58). Of these, 20 will be the upgraded Mark II variant, whilst the remaining 30 will be the older Mark I variant donated from French Army stocks. He points out that the size of the Caesar howitzer can make it difficult to conceal and therefore less suitable for "shoot-and-scoot" tactics, as they are more vulnerable to enemy fire when moving.

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Macron Suggests French Troops Could be Deployed to Ukraine in the Long Term, Whilst Far-Right Presidential Candidate Bardella Rules it Out

🎦 11:20-12:24⏩

French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to rule out the possibility of deploying French troops to Ukraine in the long term, whilst Jordan Bardella, the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) candidate for Prime Minister, has stated that if he becomes Prime Minister, he will not send French soldiers to Ukraine. Jonathan observes that recent polls indicate that Bardella is on course to become Prime Minister, which would have implications for future French military support to Ukraine. He expresses concern about the possibility of a Bardella-led government, as he believes that it would represent a significant shift to the right in French politics. He also comments on the alliance between the left-wing parties in France, noting that they represent a very broad coalition, which includes some factions who are opposed to providing assistance to Ukraine.

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Canadian Donated Senator Armoured Vehicles Deemed Unsuitable for Use Near the Front Lines by Ukrainian Troops

🎦 12:24-14:17⏩

Jonathan discusses a report from Canadian news outlet CBC News alleging that Ukrainian troops have found the Canadian-donated Senator armoured vehicles to be of limited use near the front lines. CBC News claims that a Ukrainian military official based in Kharkiv informed them that the vehicles are too lightly armoured to offer adequate protection in a frontline environment. Jonathan expresses some sympathy for the manufacturer of the Senator, Roshel, pointing out that the vehicle was never designed to be an MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle and that it is more suited to use in a security or policing role.

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Colby Babar Defends the Roshel Senator as an Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV)

🎦 14:17-15:57⏩

Colby Babar weighs in on the discussion surrounding the suitability of the Roshel Senator, stating that it is important to understand that it is not an Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), but rather an Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV). This means that it is not designed for frontline combat and is more suited to transporting troops in a less hostile environment. Babar emphasises that the Senator provides a significant upgrade in protection compared to civilian vehicles or travelling on foot and that the trade-off in terms of capability is outweighed by the speed at which it can be mass-produced (four per day compared to eight LAV-6s per month). Jonathan agrees with Babar's assessment, arguing that the Senator is a useful asset if used appropriately. He adds that the vehicle is relatively easy to repair in the field, unlike heavier armoured vehicles, which can be a significant advantage in a conflict zone.

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North Korea Has Not Confirmed Sending Troops to Ukraine to Support Russia

🎦 15:57-17:07⏩

Jonathan addresses recent rumours that North Korea is planning to send troops to Ukraine to fight alongside Russian forces. He cites an article from NK News which claims that North Korea has not made any official announcement confirming plans to send troops to Ukraine. However, Jonathan advises viewers to treat this information with caution.

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Wrap up

🎦 17:07-17:19⏩

Jonathan concludes the video and signs off for the day. He thanks viewers for watching and encourages them to like, subscribe and share the video. He mentions that he is planning to record his geopolitics video but that he may struggle to complete it, as he has to travel to London.

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