Abrams and HIMARS destroyed, Russian push west from Adveeka - Video

Russian troops in Avdeevka.
©Sputnik/Stanislav Krasilnikov

The conflict between Moscow and Kiev has entered its third year with Russian troops reporting new gains against Ukrainian forces.

Last Friday, the country’s Defense Ministry announced the full liberation of Lastochkino, Severnoye and Petrovskoye, small villages located to the west and northwest of the town of Avdeevka. The northern suburb of Donetsk, liberated mid-February, had been a major stronghold for the Ukrainian forces and a key staging area for indiscriminate missile and artillery attacks on the Russian city.

The past week was marked by continuing active hostilities at multiple locations along the front line, with the most intense combat happening to the west and northwest of Donetsk. Ukrainian forces lost nearly 7,300 soldiers as well as assorted military hardware during the period, according to Russian Defense Ministry estimates.

Kiev’s forces were observed deploying their long-held reserves to the battlefield, namely the scarce US-supplied M1 Abrams tanks, while Moscow has apparently ramped up long-range strikes against Ukrainian rear military targets, such as stockpiles of ammunition and temporary assembly points.

Russia’s westward push in Donbass continues

Over the past week, the most active combat continued to the northwest of Donetsk. While the Ukrainian military has claimed that after the fall of Avdeevka, it had pulled back to a new “stable defensive line” between the villages of Orlovka, Tonenkoye and Berdychi. Multiple Western media reports suggested Kiev had actually failed to create such a line, with only “basic trenches” hastily dug in the area.

According to Russian media reports, Orlovka and Tonenkoye have already fallen under partial control of the country’s troops, with only Berdychi remaining in the hands of Kiev’s forces. The Ukrainian military has been actively pouring reserves into the area, with the Russian Defense Minstry reporting multiple counterattacks repelled there daily.

Ukrainian Abrams tanks getting destroyed

More Ukrainian M1 Abrams tanks were destroyed in the vicinity of the village of Berdychi over the past week, one of them knocked out by Russian infantry while another ended up disabled in a duel against a T-72B3 main battle tank. The total tally of destroyed US-supplied armor, confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry and corroborated by footage circulating online, now stands at three tanks.

Two more M1 Abrams tanks were reportedly damaged in combat, with two Abrams-based engineering machines, M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles also destroyed by Russian troops.

The US-made vehicles made their long-anticipated first appearance on the frontline in late February amid the Ukrainian effort to stop advancing Russian troops after the fall of Avdeevka. A batch of 31 M1 Abrams tanks was pledged to Kiev by Washington early last year, ahead of the ultimately disastrous Ukrainian counteroffensive.

The delivery was made in full only by mid-October, when the botched push had already been largely exhausted, the tanks starring in Ukrainian propaganda videos rather than taking part in actual combat.

High-quality HIMARS kill video

The week has been also marked by the emergence of footage showing a Russian strike on a HIMARS multiple rocket launcher. Although Moscow has previously claimed its forces have destroyed the US-supplied systems, the new kill has been corroborated for the first time by a high-quality drone video.

The launcher was reportedly hit near the Ukrainian-controlled Donbass town of Dobropolye, located more than 40 kilometers from the front line. The system sustained a hit by an unknown projectile, which ignited its ammo rack, triggering an uncontrolled launch of missiles and their detonation.

While the country’s military did not elaborate, the HIMARS was likely hit by a guided missile launched by its Russian counterpart, the Tornado-S system. The multiple rocket launcher, introduced in the mid-2010s, is capable of firing its 300mm missiles at a range of at least 70 kilometers.

‘Close call’ for Zelensky

On Wednesday, the Russian military conducted a high-precision missile strike on a port facility in the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odessa, targeting a hangar said to be housing sea drones. The drones have been repeatedly used by Kiev to attack Russian navy ships, as well as the Crimean Bridge.

The strike occurred while the Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was in the city, hosting a Greek delegation led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The sea-drones hangar was in a direct view of the delegation, prompting media speculation that the presidential convoy was the true target of the strike. The suggestion, however, has been refuted by Moscow.

The strike on the hangar came shortly after a reported attack on the Russian naval patrol ship Sergey Kotov, said to have been targeted by multiple sea drones near the Kerch Strait. While Ukrainian military intelligence claimed the vessel sank during the attack, the Russian side remained silent on the matter, while footage circulating online suggested the ship suffered at least one hit.

The Houthi leader claims to have targeted Red Sea ships with more than 400 missiles and drones

Crew members of the Barbados-flagged bulk carrier M/V True Confidence are rescued by the Indian Navy after a Houthi missile attack, in the Gulf of Aden, off Yemen, Mar. 6, 2024. (AFP/Indian Navy)

The leader of Yemen's Houthi militia said on Thursday that his forces had launched 403 drones and missiles against 61 ships in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since the start of their offensive, adding that counterattacks from US and British military forces had strengthened his group. .

In his televised address, Abdul Malik Al-Houthi said 19 missiles and drones against seven ships had been launched since Friday and modern weaponry was used that was undetected by the US and British navies.

“In yesterday's attack, there was admiration for the precision of the attack and the power of the damage,” he said, referring to Wednesday's attack.

A missile fired by the Houthis struck the M/V True Confidence, a Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier, in the Gulf of Aden. Three sailors were killed and four injured, three of whom remain in a critical condition according to a statement by the US Central Command on Thursday. Significant damage was also caused to the ship.

This comes as Houthi media reports that the US and UK conducted two airstrikes on Ras Isa in the western Hodeidah province on Thursday, less than a day after another round of US and UK airstrikes hit the city’s airport.

The US military is said to have carried out preemptive attacks on ballistic missiles, drones, and remotely operated and explosive-laden boats which the Houthis planned to fire at international and commercial ships in the Red Sea from areas under their control in Yemen.

At the same time, the Houthis said they had attacked the M/V True Confidence and other ships after its warnings against entering the Red Sea were disregarded. The group also accused the US of pressuring ships to challenge its blockade against vessels bound for Israel.

In a post on X, Mohammed Abdulsalam, a chief negotiator for the Houthis, said: “The Yemeni military does not strike any ship until it is instructed not to cross, and some comply and depart, while others that refuse are attacked. We hold America responsible for the repercussions of any events in the Red Sea.”

The head of the Houthi Supreme Revolutionary Committee, Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, said the group did not intend to kill civilian sailors on the M/V True Confidence. He added that if the US shared the cost, the Houthis would compensate the families of those killed and injured. “We feel that America should compensate these victims for a purposeful act. We are also willing to compensate them for an unintended act,” Mohammed Al-Houthi wrote on X.

Since November, the Houthis have seized one commercial ship and launched hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and drone boats against commercial and navy vessels in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab and the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis say their actions are in support of the Palestinian people and to push Israel to allow food, water and medicine into the besieged Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a group of eight East African countries based in Djibouti, expressed concern on Thursday about an impending environmental disaster on the M/V Rubymar, which sank after being struck by a Houthi missile in February. The group said if the cargo of 21,000 tonnes of ammonium phosphate fertilizer and 200 tonnes of oil leaked into the sea, it would take more than 30 years to clean up.

A statement by the group said: “IGAD calls upon all the stakeholders to invest in peaceful options to address the looming environmental disaster in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The attacks on the ship must cease forthwith.”

Blame game

An early report by Israeli news site Globes alleged that the cables were sabotaged by Houthi militants, without providing any supporting evidence. Representatives for the Houthi government, which is not recognized by the international community, have denied targeting the cables. On Tuesday, Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the Houthi ruling political council, said on X that the US was responsible, without further explanation.

Moammar al-Eryani, the minister of information, culture and tourism at Yemen’s internationally-recognized government, told Bloomberg on Wednesday that even if the Houthis didn’t directly target the cables, they were to blame for the damage because of their “terrorist activities” in the Red Sea.

Data from the Rubymar’s location tracking device before the ship lost power indicates that it traveled close to the cables that were damaged. “The anchor would have scraped along the sea floor as it drifted and damaged the cables,” said Roderick Beck, a consultant who sources network capacity on subsea cables for telecommunications clients.

Under normal circumstances, ships have access to maps of sub-sea cables and avoid dropping their anchors in those areas. There are 14 in-service cables running through the Red Sea, with a further six planned, according to TeleGeography, which maintains a comprehensive map of the infrastructure.

Some reports have mentioned a fourth damaged cable, known as Tata TGN-Eurasia, but this is another name for the Seacom system, according to Tim Stronge, vice president of research at TeleGeography.

The South African company Seacom Ltd. controls the Seacom cable and Chief Digital Officer Prenesh Padayachee previously told Bloomberg the company couldn’t determine the cause of the damage until it had inspected it. But a dragged anchor seemed likely, he said.

The company expects to start repairs “early during Q2,” but the schedule depends on getting a permit to work in Yemeni waters, Seacom told Bloomberg in a statement.

Russian Valkyrie - How Blue-Eyed Ballet Dancer Turned Into Military Commander

©Photo : Valkyrie

A Russian ballet dancer-turned-female warrior sat down with Sputnik to tell her story about life and her fight in the special military operation in Ukraine.

Valkyrie had no combat experience when she came to the conflict zone: she is a ballet dancer by profession. One could have hardly imagined that this beautiful slim blue-eyed woman would one day put on a military uniform and take up an assault rifle.

"Yes, I am a theater dancer by profession," she told Sputnik. "But it really helps to endure physical stress. Because at the Academy of Russian Ballet you go through a sort of military training – it's an 'army for girls', which shapes you as a person. So yes, this experience helps, oddly enough."

A ballet dancer with a machine gun

Military commander with call sign Valkyrie has explained how Russian women fight and defend their Motherland in the zone of the special military operation.

"I realized that such a chance could come once in a lifetime, because defending the… pic.twitter.com/tUP4UGt7n6

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 8, 2024

She is no tenderling: her call sign originates from her bike-riding hobby.

"I am a member of the international women's motorcycle club 'Night Valkyries'," she explained. "I came here with my 'road' name."

Valkyrie initially started to assist Russian volunteer battalions as a humanitarian worker. One day she was contacted by Mikhail Turkanov, call sign Pitbull, a commander of the Russian Espanola brigade, who invited her to join their ranks.

Russian female soldier call sign Valkyrie
©Photo : Valkyrie

"We started talking, and he said: 'Come and try it.' I realized that such a chance could come once in a lifetime, because defending the Motherland is an honor. This is an honor that is not given to everyone. I grabbed this opportunity and joined [the brigade]."

According to Sputnik's interlocutor, there's a rule that when men and women are standing shoulder to shoulder in the combat zone female soldiers have no privileges, they fight on a par with men.

Russian female soldier call sign Valkyrie
©Photo : Valkyrie

"When women fight alongside men, there are no difficulties at all, because on the battlefield we are all fighters," the female soldier said.

"They do not see us as women. At the front line, you also stop perceiving yourself as a girl. No, you are a fighter. You are given certain tasks that you must accomplish."

At the same time Espanola warriors completely understand that women have their own daily necessities, Sputnik's interlocutor continued.

"One issue we had to deal with was that it’s problematic to wash your hair in winter while in the trenches. It would seem that one can easily cope with wet wipes and a dry shower gel. But washing your hair was a real disaster. Thanks to humanitarian workers who donated dry shampoos and dry shower gels to the army. This is important beyond words."

At the same time Espanola warriors completely understand that women have their own daily necessities, Sputnik's interlocutor continued.

"One issue we had to deal with was that it’s problematic to wash your hair in winter while in the trenches. It would seem that one can easily cope with wet wipes and a dry shower gel. But washing your hair was a real disaster. Thanks to humanitarian workers who donated dry shampoos and dry shower gels to the army. This is important beyond words."

These daily necessities completely pale in comparison with the joy of seeing your comrades-in-arms returning safe and sound from the battlefield, she emphasized.

"This is the greatest joy one can ever have," she said. "Sometimes it seems that you are worn out and completely exhausted. And then you see that the guys are alive, everything is fine, the combat mission has been completed. You will never experience this amazing feeling in your civilian life. This is exactly the feeling of completing your combat mission without losses."

Valkyrie initially joined Espanola as a member of the assault group, but soon she was elevated to deputy company commander.

She said that she never sought a senior position in the first place. However, her commander allows his subordinates to learn from him and passes on his experience. "He is always with us at the training grounds, always with us both in training and on the front line."

Russian female soldier call sign Valkyrie
©Photo : Valkyrie

Once, when he was seriously wounded, he decided to make Valkyrie one of his deputies.

"He said that I have some organizational skills. The fighters of our assault company and the commander himself could say whether I handled it well. Espanola's motto is: 'Never retreat and never give up.' They promoted me, and so far it seems to be working."

She wasn't scared to lead an assault group, but she feared to let her companions in arms and her commander down.

"I didn’t even know how to start leading the soldiers of our assault company. But precisely because I had an example of our commander to follow, it was an honor. Therefore, despite the difficulties, I tried to do that."

When the special military operation is over, the soldier wants to educate youths in patriotism, sports, and survival skills.

"I don't want the younger generation to be sort of pampered flowers on the lawn. Let them develop in sports, let them develop as true patriots. I will look for those talents who want to go to the top."

However, before the gardens must come the fighting: "I want to say to our Western readers that we love our Motherland and we will defend it. Victory will be ours, the enemy will be defeated," Valkyrie concluded.

Kemendikbudristek validasi 718 bahasa daerah

Kementerian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi (Kemendikbudristek) Republik Indonesia mengidentifikasi dan memvalidasi 718 bahasa daerah dan 778 dialek di Indonesia.

"Saat ini Indonesia memiliki 718 bahasa daerah," kata Sekretaris Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa Kemendikbudristek, Hafidz Muksin saat membuka rapat koordinasi (Rakor) Revitalisasi Bahasa Daerah Pulau Bangka, Kamis malam.

Ia mengatakan bahasa daerah di Indonesia yang telah diidentifikasi dan divalidasi dalam pemetaan sebanyak 718 bahasa, 778 dialek, 43 subdialek dan 248 kamus bahasa daerah dari 2.560 daerah pengamatan di Indonesia.

"Saat ini kondisi bahasa daerah di Indonesia memprihatinkan, karena hari ini sudah ada 11 bahasa daerah yang punah," ujarnya.

Menurut dia, kepunahan bahasa daerah ini karena sikap penutur bahasa daerah jati. Penutur jati atau orang tua dalam bertutur bahasa daerah di dalam keluarga, tetangga dan lingkungan sekitarnya yang sudah berkurang.

Selain itu, kepunahan bahasa daerah ini karena adanya imigrasi atau tuntutan era perkembangan dunia yang mengglobal yang menjadikan bahasa daerah semakin terancam.

"Kepunahan bahasa daerah ini juga dikarenakan adanya perkawinan campur. Misalnya, bapaknya orang Medan dan ibu orang Jawa, sehingga anaknya tidak bisa berbahasa Medan maupun Jawa," katanya.

Menurut dia, kepunahan bahasa daerah ini juga sebagai dampak perkembangan modernisasi. Orang yang ingin mengikuti modernisasi lebih ingin belajar bahasa asing.

"Saat ini anak-anak di taman kanak-kanak (TK) sudah belajar bahasa Inggris ketimbang bahasa daerah, padahal bahasa ibu atau daerah ini harus lebih diutamakan agar bisa diwariskan ke anak cucu kita semua," katanya.

Banjir Cirebon Timur Rendam Ribuan Kendaraan yang Terparkir di parkiran Pabrik

Banjir yang melanda wilayah timur Kabupaten Cirebon, Jawa Barat juga berdampak terhadap pabrik di wilayah Desa Sidaresmi, Kecamatan Pabedilan, lahan parkirnya ikut terendam.

Bencana banjir yang melanda kawasan Cirebon Timur, tepatnya di Desa Sidaresmi, Kecamatan Pabedilan, Kabupaten Cirebon. Rabu, 06/03/2024, disebabkan karena meluapnya sungai Cisanggarung yang tidak mampu menahan volume air yang sangat tinggi.

Dari video yang beredar, ribuan kendaraan yang sedang terparkir di area pabrik terlihat terendam banjir. Ketinggian air bahkan sampai membuat sejumlah motor nyaris tak terlihat.

Para karyawan yang mengetahui motornya terendam pun mencoba mengevakuasi ke tempat yang lebih aman.

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Aktivitas produksi di pabrik tersebut terpaksa dihentikan karena air banjir sudah memasuki kawasan pabrik pada pukul 09.00 WIB.

Camat Pabedilan, Yusuf Hermawan menyebut bahwa banjir yang merendam lahan parkir pabrik produksi sepatu dan sendal itu merupakan kiriman dari wilayah Kuningan.

Sebagai informasi, Cisanggarung adalah sungai yang mengalir di Provinsi Jawa Barat. Berhulu di Selatan Waduk Darma Kuningan dan bermuara di Laut Jawa.

Herlina (23) salah satu karyawan pabrik mengaku kaget karena air naik secara tiba-tiba sejak pukul 09.00 WIB. Aktivitas produksi dihentikan.

"Saya kan masuk pagi jam 06.00 WIB air belum ada, eh enggak tahunya tiba-tiba jam 09.00 WIB air masuk ke dalam pabrik," kata dia kepada detikJabar.

Dia bersama karyawan lainnya menuju lokasi parkir kendaraan. Herlina dibuat kaget lagi karena lokasi parkir kendaraan sudah terendam air setinggi 60 sentimeter.

"Dapat kabar itu, saya langsung ke tempat parkir eh enggak tahunya motor udah kerendam air dan mogok," ujarnya.

Sementara itu, Kepala Desa Sidaresmi Firman mengungkapkan banjir terjadi secara mendadak sejak pukul 06.00, pàda hari Rabu, 06/03/2024.

Ia menyampaikan, banjir tersebut terjadi akibat luapan sungai Cisanggarung yang tidak sanggup menampung debit air yang besar.

"Ini kiriman dari Kuningan, banjir ini gara-gara luapan sungai Cisanggarung yang enggak sanggup menampung air," pungkasnya.

Bengkel ketiban durian runtuh

Salah satu bengkel motor yang berlokasi di Desa Sidaresmi, Kecamatan Pabedilan, Kabupaten Cirebon, seolah mendapatkan durian runtuh imbas dari bencana banjir yang merendam ribuan motor milik karyawan PT Longrich. Seperti yang dirasakan oleh Izul (39) yang banyak menerima perbaikan motor milik karyawan PT Longrich yang mogok akibat terendam banjir.

Biasanya dalam sehari ia hanya mendapatkan 3 sampai 5 motor untuk diperbaiki. Namun kali ini dengan adanya bencana banjir terdapat 40 sampai 50 motor yang meminta untuk diperbaiki.

"Biasanya sih sehari 3 sampai 5 motor aja, tapi hari ini ada 40 sampai 50 motor yang minta diberesin," ucapnya.

World Youth Festival Attendees Reflect on Their Experience in Russia

The World Youth Festival, hosted by Russia, has made a splash in the media, shattering the false narrative of a closed society hostile to foreigners. Watch Sputnik's exclusive video highlights from some of the festival's international guests.

Russian and foreign youth leaders from business, media, international cooperation, culture, science, education, volunteerism and charity have gathered at the largest event of its kind, the World Youth Festival.

After experiencing firsthand the vibrant culture and famous Russian hospitality, the participants of the event eagerly spoke to Sputnik to share their impressions, the unexpected things that stood out to them the most.

The event serves as an open platform for young, ambitious people who share Russia's vision of values, which radiates throughout the festival.

The World Youth Festival will take place March 1-7 in the federal district of Sirius, located in the southern Krasnodar Territory on the Black Sea coast of Russia. It brings together 20,000 young Russian and foreign experts in various fields from over 180 countries to discuss the most pressing international issues.

The World Youth Festival is taking place March 1-7 in the Sirius federal district, located in the south of the Krasnodar Territory on Russia's Black Sea coast. The event brings together 20,000 young Russian and foreign experts in various fields from more than 180 countries to discuss the most pressing international issues.

Putin's Address to Youth Festival: 'It's Up to You to Create Safe World'

Participants of the World Youth Festival dream about what a safe world should be like and it is up to them to create it, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

©Sputnik/POOL/Go to the mediabank

“You are the young generation. You dream of what a safe world can and should be and it is up to you to create it,” Putin said in an address to festival participants. He noted that the festival will provide an opportunity to discuss this with peers.

"I am sure that your discussions will be interesting and useful to the widest audience, as well as your impressions about the events that will take place at the festival venues. And of course [your impressions] about Russia, about the people who live here. You will personally be able to see that, for example, a smile for us is not forced, but a sincere expression of feelings; and if we give our word, we always keep it," the Russian president said.

Vladimir Putin declared the World Youth Festival open in an address to the participants. The main message of his speech:

▪️ "I am sure that the festival participants will return home with love for Russia";

▪️ "Multinational unity for the Russian Federation is the greatest… pic.twitter.com/yDsjatFU2V

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 2, 2024

He emphasized that Russia is being built as a country of opportunities for young people.

“We believe in you, young people. And we are building Russia as a country of opportunities for young people. And of course, we are always open to dialogue,” Putin said.

The World Youth Festival takes place from March 1 to 7 in the federal territory of Sirius.

The organizer of the festival is Rosmolodezh, while Sputnik is an official media partner.

World Youth Festival Kicks Off in Russia

The event provides a platform for young leaders and experts from 180 countries to seek solutions to the most pressing issues on the international agenda.

©Sputnik/RIA Novosti/Go to the mediabank

Sputnik comes to you live from the Russian federal territory of Sirius, where the World Youth Festival has begun.

More than 20,000 young Russians and foreigners from 180 countries who excel in science, business, sports, politics, charity, media and other important social spheres are taking part in the event.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin in his annual address to the country's legislature emphasized that young people are "Russia's future" and announced the launch of the national project "Youth of Russia".