Also, it’s not so hard to create optical notch filters that will block most of the most common laser frequencies, with minimal impact on the image quality.
I hesitated to post this article. It’s unusually negative. But the CNN reporters were on the front lines with Ukrainian troops.
The supply shortages for basic artillery are more severe than generally acknowledged. I know the UK and other countries are increasing aid. There’s still shortages with the US cut backs. Meanwhile Russia is getting N Korean supplies.
It may get worse as the election draws nearer.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/23/europe/ukraine-weapons-avdiivka-russian-assault-intl-cmd/index.html
The CIA has been trying to encourage Russians to send secrets to the US. I hope it works if it shortens the war, but you’d have to be braver than me to take this chance.
Russia tries a new tactic against any sort of criticism (never mind spying)
I’m sure these brave women who are peacefully protesting will count as critics eventually.
I see casualty estimates on twitter and they vary a lot probably based on weather conditions (mud) affecting the pace of operations. Apparently things have stepped up a bit with the frozen ground. Ukraine is claiming 22 tanks, 59 AFVs, and 51 artillery destroyed in 1 day! That’s about 4 times what has been reported per day over the previous week.
Often, so do the lasers. After a Black Rock Ranger was blinded in 2014 I did some research. Green lasers work by doubling the frequency of an IR laser. Good pointer lasers filter out the IR frequency emitting only the green at safe(ish) levels. Cheap-ass lasers, likely the one she was hit with, don’t bother and the IR component is stronger than the one you can see.
As a consequence, the Burning Man organization has banned hand held lasers and vehicle mounted one are inspected that they are above eye level and cannot go below horizontal.
Yeah. I think it’s naïve to expect much compliance with that Geneva Convention stuff in the modern world with most forces being irregulars or buying non-military gear and pressing it into battle.
One can hope though.
As an aside, in non-military settings (where you’re not trying to deliberately cause damage), non-visible lasers are more dangerous than visible ones. If you can see the light, you’ll quickly blink, which (depending on the laser power) might be enough to prevent damage. But if you can’t see it, you’ll continue to look at the light until it burns your retina.
screenshot of a police helicopter monitoring social unrest in Santiago, Chile 2019
Anybody who wants to protest the war in Russia simply needs to agree with Putin. Put up signs that support him even if every last Russian man is killed in the process. Honk the SOS signal if you agree.
Make pictures of Putin with wings as the Patron Saint of victory.
Now Russia is accusing Ukraine of shooting it down.
Ukrainian sources on twitter claim it had just returned to Russia from Iran and was carrying S-300 missiles, and the POW claim is just Russian disinformation.
No idea which is true, but I will say that I wouldn’t have expected Russia to move POWs around on airplanes.
This.
Why would Russia shoot it down (if they did)? Waste of a good airplane.
Probably just crashed because the mechanics sold off a key part on the black market.
“good airplane” Objection! Assumes facts not in evidence!
As for why, well, Russia probably wouldn’t be adverse to staging a false flag for propaganda purposes. “Look at those monstrous Ukrainians! They shot down their own people!”
Killing your own POWs is always a risk of war.
But you can’t let hostage-taking deter the effective prosecution of war.
Deliberately crashing a transport aircraft would make for a rather expensive false flag operation.
The video briefly pans over and shows a smoke cloud that appears to be on the earlier flight path. It’s consistent with a missile hit; it’s also consistent with an engine failure (which in turn would be consistent with Russian maintenance sensibilities), but it would be highly unlikely for an engine failure to bring down a four-engine plane.