Watch Russian T-80BV Tanks Obliterate Ukrainian Strongholds

Russian servicemen demonstrate their military superiority and precision in a combat mission targeting Ukrainian positions in the Zaporozhye region.

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has released footage showing military crews of T-80BV battle tanks destroying Ukrainian tactical positions in the Zaporozhye area of the special military operation zone.

T-80BV tank crews carried out high precision strikes, using reconnaissance data gathered by drone operators who identified the target and later adjusted the strikes.

Watch Russian Su-34 Fighter-Bomber Destroy Cluster of Enemy Troops and Strongholds

The Su-34, also known as the "Fullback", is a twin-engine, supersonic, all-weather fighter-bomber designed and manufactured by the Russian Sukhoi Corporation. It features advanced avionics, precision-guided munitions, and a large internal bomb bay, making it a versatile and potent weapon in modern air warfare

The Russian of Defense Ministry has released footage of a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber crew destroying a cluster of enemy troops and strongholds near Krasny Liman.

According to the ministry, the Russian Air Force Su-34 crew launched a strike with FAB-500 high-explosive aerial bombs. After receiving reconnaissance confirmation that the targets were destroyed, the pilots returned safely to the airfield from which they had taken off.

Russian forces destroy another US-made Abrams tank near Avdeyevka — top brass

Russian forces destroyed another US-made Abrams tank of the Ukrainian army in the Avdeyevka area near Donetsk over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Monday.

Units of Russia’s Battlegroup Center continued taking more advantageous sites and positions in the Avdeyevka area in their well-coordinated operations over the past 24 hours. They inflicted damage on manpower and military equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 24th and 110th mechanized, 71st jaeger and 103rd territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Novokalinovo, Mayorsk, Berdychi and Rozovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, it said.

"The enemy lost over 490 personnel, two tanks, including a US-made Abrams tank, four infantry fighting vehicles, among them three US-manufactured Bradley vehicles, three armored combat vehicles and 12 motor vehicles. In counter-battery fire, an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery gun, an Msta-B howitzer, a Gvozdika motorized artillery system and three D-30 howitzers were destroyed," the ministry specified.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported about the destruction of the first US-made Abrams tank in the special military operation in Ukraine on February 27.

Russian forces improve frontline positions in Kupyansk area over past day

Russian forces improved their tactical position in the Kupyansk area, destroying roughly 160 enemy troops over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, units of the Western Battlegroup improved their tactical position and inflicted damage by firepower on amassed manpower and hardware of the Ukrainian army’s 43rd and 66th mechanized, 57th motorized infantry and 115th territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Makeyevka in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Ivanovka, Chugunovka and Sinkovka in the Kharkov Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Kupyansk direction over the past 24 hours totaled roughly 160 personnel, 3 motor vehicles and an Msta-B howitzer, it specified.

Russian forces eliminate 360 Ukrainian troops in Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces eliminated roughly 360 Ukrainian troops, two armored vehicles and a multiple rocket launcher of the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern Battlegroup conducted active combat operations and inflicted damage on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 28th mechanized, 46th airmobile, 79th air assault and 214th territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Georgiyevka and Maksimilyanovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours amounted to 360 personnel, 2 armored personnel carriers, a Grad multiple rocket launcher, a UK-made FH70 howitzer and an Msta-B howitzer, it specified.

Kiev loses over 320 troops in south Donetsk area in past day

The Ukrainian military lost more than 320 troops in the south Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the south Donetsk direction, units of the Battlegroup East inflicted damage in their well-coordinated operations on the personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 72nd mechanized brigade and 128th territorial defense brigade in areas near the communities of Urozhainoye, Vladimirovka and Vodyanoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The Ukrainian army’s losses amounted to 320 personnel, 2 infantry fighting vehicles and 7 motor vehicles," the ministry said.

Russian forces destroy 85 Ukrainian troops in Kherson area over past day

Russian forces destroyed roughly 85 Ukrainian troops and three US-made artillery systems in the Kherson area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"The enemy’s losses totaled as many as 85 personnel, three motor vehicles, two HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and an M777 artillery system of US manufacture and a Gvozdika motorized artillery gun," the ministry said.

In the Kherson direction, units of Russia’s Dnepr Battlegroup inflicted damage on massed manpower and military hardware of the Ukrainian army’s 65th and 118th mechanized and 128th mountain assault brigades and the 14th National Guard brigade near the settlements of Rabotino, Verbovoye and Pyatikhatki in the Zaporozhye Region, it specified.

Russian forces wipe out two Ukrainian UAV control posts over past day

Russian forces destroyed two Ukrainian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) control posts and struck enemy manpower and equipment in 128 areas over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Operational-tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groupings of forces destroyed two UAV control posts near the settlements of Novokalinovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Antonovka in the Kherson Region, and also struck the Ukrainian army’s manpower and military equipment in 128 areas," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses down 81 Ukrainian military drones over past day

Russian air defense forces shot down 81 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day, the ministry reported.

"During the last 24-hour period, air defense capabilities shot down 81 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near the settlements of Orlinskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Chervonogorka and Samoilovka in the Zaporozhye Region, Gladkovka and Krynki in the Kherson Region," the ministry said.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 575 Ukrainian warplanes, 267 helicopters, 14,193 unmanned aerial vehicles, 476 surface-to-air missile systems, 15,348 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,231 multiple rocket launchers, 8,286 field artillery guns and mortars and 19,325 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.

Israel again attacks aid-seekers in Gaza City

Dozens’ of casualties in another Israeli attack on aid seekers: Ministry

A Palestinian woman reacts in front of the Abu Anza family home destroyed in an overnight Israeli air strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on 3 March 2024 (Said Khatib/AFP)

Health Ministry says “dozens” killed and wounded in “horrific massacre” of aid-seekers at Kuwaiti roundabout in Gaza City.

An Israeli air strike on an aid truck in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, killed at least ten people and injured several others on Sunday, Palestine's Wafa news agency reported.

Al Jazeera said the bombing targeted "the truck belonging to a Kuwaiti association in the Al-Brook area on Al-Bahr Street.

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  Hamas said the attack indicated that "the occupation's continued targeting of aid convoys expresses an unprecedented level of criminality and brutality in contemporary history".

The attack comes a few days after another Israeli attack on aid seekers killed more than a hundred people in Gaza City.

Residents had gathered seeking food on 29 February from an aid convoy, with the area completely cut off by Israeli forces.

The military claims it did not strike the convoy and that most deaths were due to a stampede.

These findings contradict the words of Palestinian officials and eyewitnesses, who said people were indiscriminately shot at by Israeli forces while waiting for food aid in Gaza City.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 15 children have died in the past few days from malnutrition and dehydration at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza City hours after UNICEF chief warned of acute malnutrition territory.

Aljazeera's correspondent on the ground in Gaza reports that more than 40 injured people arrived at Al Awda Hospital following the bombing of a house in the central Gaza camp that was sheltering displaced Palestinians.

The majority of those killed were women and children, reports Palestinian news agency Wafa, citing local sources, after Israeli forces bombed a house where displaced Palestinians were sheltering in the central Gaza refugee camp.

At least 10 were killed and many others wounded, Wafa said.

Iran says executed ‘Mossad terrorist’ was arrested abroad

Iran’s state television says the still-unnamed “terrorist” who was executed this morning for allegedly working for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad was arrested in a neighbouring country.

It did not say which country or whether Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or Ministry of Intelligence were aided by the other country’s government in bringing him back.

But state television showed footage of the hooded man being taken by Iranian officers from the plane that brought him back 13 days after leaving Iran.

The individual, only identified as Saeed, was allegedly recruited online by Mossad four years ago, Iran alleges.

He was said by state television to have set up a warehouse some 1.6 kilometres (1 mile) away from a Ministry of Defence site in Isfahan that came under attack by four quadcopters guided remotely by “Israeli satellites” on the night of January 28, 2023.

Truce talks are expected to resume in Egypt on Sunday but the details beyond a possible six-week pause in fighting remain unclear despite US officials’ claims a ceasefire is near. A senior Hamas official told AFP on Sunday that a ceasefire may be secured “within 24 to 48 hours” if Israel accepted their demands.

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Germany preparing for war with Russia – Medvedev

FILE PHOTO: Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
©Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina

A recently leaked recording of senior German officers discussing a potential attack on the Crimean Bridge leaves no doubt that Berlin is preparing for a military conflict with Moscow, the former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, warned on his Telegram channel on Sunday.

Medvedev, who is currently deputy head of the Russian Security Council, was commenting on audio that surfaced earlier this week. The story was broken on Friday by RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan, who said she had received the recording from Russian security officials.

The 38-minute-long recording, reportedly from February 19, contained a conversation between four officers of the German Air Force, including its commander, Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz. They were discussing operational and targeting details of Taurus long-range missiles which Berlin was considering supplying to Kiev. The officers particularly explored the option of the missiles being used against the Crimean Bridge and spoke about maintaining plausible deniability in the event of such an attack.

The leak sparked a major scandal in Germany, with many senior MPs calling for the nation’s counterintelligence efforts to be enhanced. The German Defense Ministry confirmed the authenticity of the recording but neither the military nor Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government have commented on the plans discussed by the senior officers.

On Sunday, Medvedev assumed that Berlin would now try to claim it had known nothing of the military discussions taking place. He also stated that the German authorities could call the leaked conversation a purely hypothetical one and say that the military was “obsessed with playing mock battles.”

“Any attempts to present the Bundeswehr officers’ conversation as just a ‘game’ with missiles and tanks would be a malicious lie,” the former president warned. “Germany is preparing for a war with Russia.”

Medvedev also said that the position of Scholz’s cabinet might eventually be irrelevant when it comes to the standoff between Moscow and Berlin. “History knows many examples when the military were capable of taking decisions for their civilian superiors about starting a war or just instigating [conflict],” he added. He particularly pointed to a hypothetical provocation scenario, in which the German military might convince Scholz that Russian forces had launched a missile “at Berlin,” which had been intercepted.

Various German officials have recently raised the issue of a potential war with Russia. Earlier on Sunday, the nation’s health minister, Karl Lauterbach, said that Germany should improve its healthcare system for it to be able to swiftly respond to “major disasters” like a military conflict.

Last month, German general Carsten Breuer called for a “change in mentality” in society, insisting the nation needed to prepare for a potential war with Russia in five years. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said last November that the country must become “war-capable,” and stated again in January that Berlin and all its NATO allies should arm themselves more actively to be able to “wage a war that is forced upon us.”

German Defense Minister on Leak: Discussing Scenarios Does Not Mean Giving Taurus Missiles to Kiev

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Sunday that an audio recording published by Russian media showed German senior officers discussing "different scenarios" of events, not plans, and their conversation does not mean a "green light" to transferring Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

"The officers were doing what they were here to do: they were thinking about different scenarios, without making plans in any way. There should be no doubt: this did not and does not mean a green light for the use of Taurus missiles — neither from (German) Chancellor (Olaf Scholz) nor from me," Pistorius said during a special address on the published audio recording.

He also expressed hope that the first results of an investigation into the audio recording will be ready early next week.

"There are no final results (of the probe) yet. I expect them to appear within the first few days of next week," Pistorius said during a special address on the leaked audio recording.

He added that the publication was "part of an information war" that Russia was allegedly conducting and was aimed at undermining the country's unity.

"This is meant to reinforce the legend, the fairy tale that we are working on a war against Russia, which is completely absurd," Pistorius said, adding that Germany was working exclusively on providing aid to Ukraine.

At the same time, Pistorius said he was unaware of any other leaks other than the recent one.

OPEC+ Extends Oil Production Cuts Amid Agreement Among Bloc Heavyweights Russia, Saudi Arabia

CC0/Schmucki/

Oil demand has slumped significantly since a mid-2022 high point which followed Western countries' short-sighted move to cut energy dependence on industry major Russia, signalling a drop in global economic activity.

OPEC+ members moved to extend their voluntary production cuts through the second quarter of 2024, agreeing to keep 2.2 million barrels of oil per day off the market in a bid to keep crude prices stable.

"These voluntary cuts are calculated from the 2024 required production level as per the 35th OPEC Ministerial Meeting held on June 4, 2023, and are in addition to the voluntary cuts previously announced in April 2023 and later extended until the end of 2024," a press release which appeared on OPEC's website on Sunday said.

Leading commitments to cut were Saudi Arabia (1 million bpd), Russia (471,000 bpd, in addition to 500,000 bpd announced in April 2023 and extended to December 2024), Iraq (220,000 bpd), the UAE (163,000 bpd), Kuwait (135,000 bpd), Kazakhstan (82,000 bpd), Algeria (51,000 bpd) and Oman (42,000 bpd).

"Afterwards, in order to support market stability, these voluntary cuts will be returned gradually subject to market conditions," OPEC said.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed that Russia would reduce oil output and exports by 471,000 bpd between April and June, "in coordination with certain OPEC+ member countries."

"The reduction will affect crude oil production and exports as follows: in April, the production cut will be 350,000 barrels per day and exports cut [will amount to] 121,000 barrels per day. In May, the reduction in production will amount to 400,000 barrels per day, and in exports to 71,000 barrels per day. In June, the production cut will amount to 471,000 barrels per day," Novak said.

The official Saudi Press Agency confirmed Riyadh's commitment to the cuts, with a source from the Kingdom's Energy Ministry saying oil production will hit about 9 million barrels per day through June.

The OPEC+ decision comes amid falling global demand for oil, notwithstanding the ongoing European security crisis, Houthi attacks targeting Israeli, British and American commercial ships in the Red Sea, and an ongoing Israeli assault in Gaza, signalling that the global crises are having limited impact on demand, as countries around the world hit a major slump. Europe in particular is facing the threat of widespread deindustrialization thanks to Brussels' shortsighted energy policy vis-a-vis Moscow, with hundreds of major energy-intensive industries making the move to the US to enjoy lower energy costs and generous subsidies from the US federal government.

In January, Saudi Arabia suspended plans to increase crude output from 12 million to 13 million barrels per day by the year 2027, citing Riyadh's ambitious green transition plans.

WTI and Brent crude prices have risen by roughly 8 and 6 percent, respectively, since OPEC+ first announced its planned cuts in late November, with the benchmarks trading in the $79.97 and $83.55 range as of Sunday.

Russian forces eliminate over 250 Ukrainian troops in south Donetsk area over past day

©Russian Defence Ministry/TASS

Russian forces destroyed in the south Donetsk area over the past day some 250 Ukrainian troops, an Akatsiya motorized artillery system, a D-20 howitzer, two Gvozdika motorized artillery systems and a Grad multiple rocket launcher in the special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Sunday.

"In the south Donetsk direction, units of the Battlegroup East improved their forward edge positions and also inflicted damage on the manpower and military hardware of the Ukrainian army’s 72nd mechanized and 128th territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Dobropolye in the Zaporozhye Region, Ugledar and Vodyanoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic [DPR]," the ministry said in a statement.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the south Donetsk direction over the past day totaled as many as over 250 personnel, three motor vehicles, an Akatsiya motorized artillery system, a D-20 howitzer, two Gvozdika motorized artillery systems and a Grad multiple rocket launcher, the ministry specified.

Aerial vehicles

Russian air defense forces shot down 143 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, including Bayraktar TB2 drones, over the past day in the special military operation.

"During the last 24-hour period, air defense capabilities shot down two rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, as well as 143 UAVs, including Bayraktar TB2 drones," the ministry specified.

More than 14,000 Ukrainian drones have been destroyed by Russian forces since the beginning of the special military operation.

"Since the beginning of the special military operation, as many as 575 planes, 267 helicopters, 14,112 unmanned aerial vehicles, 476 air defense systems, 15,335 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,228 multiple rocket launch systems, 8,275 artillery systems and mortars, and 19,298 special combat motor vehicles have been destroyed," the Russian defense ministry said.

Kupyansk area

Russian forces repelled five Ukrainian army attacks in the Kupyansk area, destroying roughly 35 enemy troops and numerous enemy’s military hardware items over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Sunday.

"In the Kupyansk direction, [Russian forces] repulsed five attacks by the 57th motorized infantry and 32nd mechanized brigades near the settlement of Sinkovka in the Kharkov region," the ministry’s statement reads.

"The enemy’s losses totaled up to 35 personnel, two motor vehicles, two US-produced M777 artillery systems and one American-made M198 howitzer as well as a D-20 howitzer," the ministry specified.

Donetsk area

Russian forces repulsed three Ukrainian army counterattacks and improved their frontline positions in the Donetsk area, destroying roughly 240 enemy troops, six combat vehicles and one field arms depot over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine.

"In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern Battlegroup improved their forward edge positions and inflicted damage on massed manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 22nd, 28th and 56th mechanized and 5th and 92nd assault brigades near the settlements of Krasnoye, Bogdanovka, Kurdyumovka and Andreyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic [DPR]," the ministry stated.

"Three enemy’s attacks were repelled near the settlements of Kleshcheyevka and Pobeda in the Donetsk People’s Republic," according to the statement.

The Ukrainian army lost as many as 240 personnel, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles and a US-made M777 artillery system in the Donetsk area over the past 24 hours, the ministry specified.

Watch Russian Kamikaze Drone Destroy Slovak-Made Howitzer

Russia's Lancet drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and loitering munition - another name for a sophisticated kamikaze drone. It poses a significant threat to high-value equipment and has proven to be an ideal weapon on the battlefield.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has released footage of Russian drone operators of the Battlegroup Dnepr destroying a Slovak-made Zuzana self-propelled howitzer.

"UAV operators of the Battlegroup Dnepr have destroyed a Slovak Zuzana self-propelled howitzer. The 155 mm howitzer, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces used to shell the positions of Russian troops, was hit by a Lancet drone," the Defense Ministry said.

The ministry explained that after the drone struck, powder charges in the artillery piece ignited, leading to the detonation and destruction of the gun.

Russian Troops Reveal How ‘Generals Winter and Mud’ Punish NATO Vehicles in Ukraine

©Photo : BMC

Ukraine has received tens of billions of dollars’ worth of Warsaw Pact and NATO-standard armored transports, infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, and mobile artillery systems over the past two years, expecting to use them to make a successful breakthrough against Russian forces during last year’s disastrous counteroffensive.

Troops from Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr have shown off NATO-made armored vehicles captured intact during the special military operation in Ukraine, revealing to a Sputnik correspondent why the vehicles have proven unsuitable for local battlefield conditions. “This vehicle has problems with its heater; it’s not designed for our climate, there’s essentially no heater,” an automotive platoon commander, call sign "Chebarkul," told Sputnik while driving a trophy Kirpi – a Turkish-made mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle delivered to Kiev in large numbers in 2022.

Russian forces managed to get ahold of one of these vehicles fully intact and in full working order during Ukrainian forces’ chaotic retreat from the fortified Donetsk suburb of Avdeyevka last month. Ukraine was sent about 200 BMC Kirpi (lit. "Hedgehog") MRAPs last year, with the vehicles operated by Ukraine’s ground forces and Marines.

Independent OSINT analysts estimated last October that over a quarter of the 20-ton vehicles had been destroyed, damaged, abandoned, or captured by Russian forces. Along with Turkiye and Ukraine, the vehicles, which have a complement of up to 13 passengers and an operational range of up to 1,000 km, have been bought by or donated to Djibouti, the Serbian breakaway of Kosovo, Libya, Somalia, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, and the UAE

Russian forces managed to get ahold of one of these vehicles fully intact and in full working order during Ukrainian forces’ chaotic retreat from the fortified Donetsk suburb of Avdeyevka last month.

Ukraine was sent about 200 BMC Kirpi (lit. "Hedgehog") MRAPs last year, with the vehicles operated by Ukraine’s ground forces and Marines. Independent OSINT analysts estimated last October that over a quarter of the 20-ton vehicles had been destroyed, damaged, abandoned, or captured by Russian forces. Along with Turkiye and Ukraine, the vehicles, which have a complement of up to 13 passengers and an operational range of up to 1,000 km, have been bought by or donated to Djibouti, the Serbian breakaway of Kosovo, Libya, Somalia, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, and the UAE.

Another trophy NATO vehicle shown off by Russian troops is the Pinzgauer 718, a BAE Systems Land and Armaments-manufactured all-terrain 6x6 vehicle.

“This vehicle, judging by the tactical markings applied to it, was used by medical staff to evacuate the wounded. Its front axle was destroyed,” a trooper going by the call sign "Kazan," the deputy commander for weapons of a separate repair and evacuation regiment from Battlegroup Tsentr siad.

“During the Ukrainian retreat from Avdeyevka, while our forces stormed the city, the vehicle was abandoned. I think that in this area, in the current muddy conditions, the use of this vehicle makes no sense, given its poor cross-country ability due to the wheelbase and low ground clearance,” the soldier said.

Ukraine has received at least 11 Pinzgauer vehicles of various configurations, three of them ambulances, and eight in their armored personnel carrier role, since mid-2022. The vehicles have an operational range of about 400 km, a 2.5-ton payload capacity, and the ability to transport between 8 and 12 passengers. The vehicles were developed by Austrian-based manufacturing conglomerate Steyr-Daimler-Puch in the early 1970s, with Britain’s BAE producing them between 2000 and 2007.

Shattering NATO Myths

The battlefields of Ukraine have effectively shattered the reputation of invincibility that NATO equipment earned for itself in battles against smaller conventional adversaries through the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, with Russian forces destroying thousands of Western military vehicles ranging from Bradley IFVs to Abrams, Challenger 2, and Leopard 2 main battle tanks over the past eight months.

Western defense observers recognized the limitations of their military hardware in Ukraine, urging Kiev to speed up the pace of its disastrous counteroffensive before getting stuck in the mud and winter weather, and pointing out that individual weapons systems, including Ukraine’s complement on Abrams tanks – requires “rigorous maintenance” to keep their engines operational in dusty rural conditions over long periods.

As far back as August of 2023, experts began coming out of the woodwork to suggest that Kiev stick to its Soviet-era military equipment for attacks against entrenched Russian positions, at least in part due to the maneuverability characteristics of the old equipment in bad weather and difficult terrain.