Definitely a type of FOD, though in that case it hit a tire and then the fuel tank (or maybe pieces of the tire hit the tank–not sure). Doors on the air intakes wouldn’t have helped. But debris of any kind on the runway is a serious danger.
Thank you.
Never mind
It’s been suggested that the SU-34 crew may have been attempting to defect - thus the low-altitude flight through mountains at night:
already posted
There have been a number of attacks by Ukraine on Russian air defense systems lately, particularly in Crimea. Talk from Russians and ISW suggest this is to prep the area for when F-16’s are delivered. Some Russians have said they think F-16’s are already in Ukraine.
To the bolded: Yes, Russian uses the word “скала” (skala) for a singular piece of stony topography (cf. Гибралтарская скала [Gibraltarskaya skala] = Rock of Gibraltar).
In the context of, say, a rock/stone you could pick up and throw, or rocks you might clear out of your garden, or rocks to line the bottom of a fish tank, a different word, “камень” (kamen), is used. This same noun (and its adjectivial form) is also used for “stone” as a material (каменная столешница = stone countertop; дом из камня = house made of stone[s]).
So a jet’s intake could suck up a “камень”, but never a “скала”.
I looked at a few Russian language sources just to double-check which noun was used in describing the SU-34 crash. It was invariably “скала” (in it’s accusative form “скалу” [skalu]).
New sanctions are taking a bite. A number of Russian banks are “temporarily” off line or not processing transactions. The Russian stock exchange is also experiencing difficulties; it was unable to exchange dollars and euros with other currencies as of June 13th.
Additional aid reported:
Canada - 50 new production Armored Combat Support Vehicles.
Slovenia - 3 BVP M-80s, Infantry fighting vehicles
- 26 BOVs Armored Personnel Carriers / air defense. Some are armed with triple 20m cannons.
I didn’t know there was a weapons ban on Azov. Whelp, it has been lifted. The brigade was badly hurt in the siege of Mariupol in May, 2022. They have replacements now.
US Department of defense June 13th 2024
Biden, Zelenskyy Sign 10-Year Bilateral Security Agreement
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President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today signed a 10-year bilateral security pact aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s ability to defend itself in the present while also deterring aggression in the future.
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Per the agreement the U.S. and Ukraine will spend the next 10 years building and maintaining Ukraine’s credible defense and deterrence capability; strengthening Ukraine’s capacity to sustain its fight over the long term; accelerating Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration; and consulting in the event of a future Russian armed attack against Ukraine.
Sounds like NATO light.
New German aid package from today:
Germany has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine that includes three HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and 10 Leopard main battle tanks, the country’s defense ministry announced on June 14.
After a reluctant start under Merkel, Germany is now the largest aid donor in monetary terms after the US.
Merkel left office on 8 December 2021 (was in office in a caretaker role since 21 October 2021). So the initially hesitant contribution in the present full-on conflict since February 2022 is not on her (that Ukraine was not admitted to NATO before the events of 2014 made this impossible was partially on her, though.)
Northern campaign having issues.
After months of essentially stalemate fighting in eastern Ukraine, it looked like this war was going to bog down into a long-lasting meatgrinder. Ukraine’s recent success in degrading air defenses in Crimea, along with the capability of F-16s to provide ground support and SEAD, may signal a shift in the primary focus of Ukraine’s offensive plans.
I’ve read a couple of analyses that indicate not only is Crimea more vulnerable than previously thought; if it’s lost to Russia – or even if Ukraine can seriously impede Russia’s ability to use Crimea as a resupply and staging area – it could be the fulcrum on which the war turns in Ukraine’s favor for good.
Gonna be interesting to see what the latter half of 2024 brings. Here’s hoping it’s bad news for the Russians.
Not Breaking News question
Is the mutual aid agreement between Russia and North Korea going to add new cannon fodder to the war?
Sounds like the subject of a new thread, but as that is not breaking news, that post did not belong here. Please watch it.
Moderating
The inappropriate question would have been perfect for extended speculation in the related Regional Situation thread.
A Newsweek story published June 19 cites a Ukrainian claim that Russia has now lost 14,000 artillery pieces since the February 2022 invasion.
In a 24-hour period this week, Ukraine said Russia lost 48 artillery systems, which brought the total lost to 14,007. They also claimed Russian troop losses are in excess of 529,000 since the war began.
I’m assuming the Ukrainian artillery figures (however inflated they may be) only account for pieces destroyed by Ukraine, and don’t consider the artillery pieces that might be lost due to tube failure. Speculation was that Russia wouldn’t be able to replace its artillery tubes in a timely manner, particularly given the volume of artillery fire they routinely employ.