The Finval-2023 exercises involve approximately 10,000 personnel and more than 50 pieces of military equipment. These include surface ships and support vessels, submarines, naval airplanes and helicopters, Bal and Bastion coastal missile systems, as well as wheeled and tracked armored vehicles.
The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage of the corvette 'Gremyashchy' (Thundering) destroying a ship of a mock enemy at a distance of more than 300 kilometers with a cruise missile of the Kalibr complex as part of the Pacific Fleet's Finval-2023 exercise.
Earlier during the maneuvers, cruise missiles were successfully fired at a complex target position in the northeastern part of the Bering Sea, while cruise missiles were intercepted and a number of other combat drills were also conducted.
The Russian Defense Ministry emphasized that all episodes of Finval-2023 are defensive in nature and aimed at improving the training of troops and forces for actions on Russia's northeastern borders.
Ukraine Loses Up to 175 Military in Donetsk Direction - MoD
Ukraine has lost up to 175 military in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
"Enemy losses [in the Donetsk direction] amounted to up to 175 Ukrainian military personnel, a tank, an armored combat vehicle and three pickup trucks," the ministry said in a statement.
Kiev has also lost 135 military in the South Donetsk direction, the ministry added.
Over the given period, the Russian armed forces have repelled five attacks by Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk direction, three attacks in the Zaporozhye direction, two attacks in the Krasny Liman direction, and one in the South Donetsk direction.
Ukraine launched its latest counteroffensive in early June. Three months later, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Ukrainian counteroffensive had failed, with Ukraine suffering 71,000 casualties. Several Western officials also admitted that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had not been successful.
Watch Ukrainian POW Describe How Russian Leaflet Saved His Life
A group of Ukrainian soldiers ran into the woods to surrender to the Russian Armed Forces. One of the defectors told Sputnik that the group decided to surrender after their infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) got hit.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has published a clip showing a detained Ukrainian servicemen who managed to contact Russian troops thanks to leaflets spread by Russian forces that contain a frequency and call sign.
The Ukrainian soldier talked about the poor combat supplies of the Kiev regime, including the lack of armored vehicles and munitions. Moreover, the prisoner of war (POW) mentioned that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have special squads to shoot deserters.
The POW noted the good attitude towards him of the Russian soldiers.
Amid the failed counteroffensive attempt launched by the Kiev regime in early June, Ukrainian servicemen are increasingly refusing to sacrifice their lives to protect NATO interests. Having achieved almost nothing by losing the majority of their strategic reserves, Ukrainian servicemen have no reason to fight for Volodymyr Zelensky or US hegemony. Therefore, more and more Ukrainian soldiers are trying to save their lives by surrendering to Russian troops.
Pemandangan udara laut hijau akibat mekarnya plankton di garis pantai Chonburi, Thailand, 14 September 2023. REUTERS/Napat Wesshasartar Memperoleh Hak Lisensi
Pertumbuhan plankton yang sangat padat di lepas pantai timur Thailand menciptakan “zona mati” perairan, mengancam mata pencaharian nelayan setempat yang membudidayakan kerang di perairan tersebut.
Ilmuwan kelautan mengatakan beberapa daerah di Teluk Thailand memiliki jumlah plankton 10 kali lebih banyak dari jumlah normal, sehingga mengubah air menjadi hijau terang dan membunuh kehidupan laut.
“Ini pertama kalinya saya melihatnya dengan sangat buruk,” kata ilmuwan kelautan Tanuspong Pokavanich. “Ini sangat parah.”
Pertumbuhan plankton terjadi satu atau dua kali setahun dan biasanya berlangsung dua hingga tiga hari, kata para ahli. Mereka dapat menghasilkan racun yang membahayakan lingkungan, atau dapat membunuh kehidupan laut dengan menghabiskan oksigen di dalam air dan menghalangi sinar matahari.
Pesisir Chonburi terkenal dengan peternakan kerangnya, dan lebih dari 80% dari hampir 300 lahan di wilayah tersebut terkena dampaknya, kata Satitchat Thimkrajong, presiden Asosiasi Perikanan Chonburi.
Lahan milik nelayan Suchat Buwat adalah salah satu yang terkena dampaknya. Dia mengatakan perkembangan tersebut telah menyebabkan kerugian lebih dari 500.000 baht ($14.000), dan rekan-rekannya juga mengalami kerugian yang "tak terduga".
Meskipun penyebab melimpahnya plankton masih belum jelas, para ilmuwan yakin polusi dan panas ekstrem yang disebabkan oleh perubahan iklim adalah penyebabnya.
Seorang ilmuwan kelautan dari Kasetsart University mengambil foto hijaunya air laut akibat mekarnya plankton. Foto: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters
“El Niño menyebabkan kekeringan dan suhu laut lebih tinggi,” kata Tanuspong. “Semuanya akan menjadi lebih buruk jika kita tidak menyesuaikan cara kita mengelola sumber daya, limbah air, dan cara hidup kita.”
Awal tahun ini, ledakan plankton menyebabkan ribuan ikan mati terdampar di sepanjang hamparan pantai di provinsi Chumphon di Thailand selatan, dan para ahli menyalahkan perubahan iklim sebagai pemicu fenomena alam tersebut.
Di seluruh dunia, gelombang panas laut telah menjadi kekhawatiran yang semakin besar pada tahun ini, dengan ribuan ikan mati terdampar di pantai-pantai di Texas dan para ahli memperingatkan akan berkembangnya alga di sepanjang pantai Inggris sebagai akibat dari kenaikan suhu laut.
Laporan para saksi dan analisis video dan pecahan senjata menunjukkan bahwa rudal Ukraina gagal mencapai sasaran yang diinginkan dan mendarat di jalan yang ramai, dengan konsekuensi yang menghancurkan.
Serangan rudal pada 6 September terhadap Kostiantynivka di Ukraina timur adalah salah satu yang paling mematikan di negara itu dalam beberapa bulan terakhir, menewaskan sedikitnya 15 warga sipil dan melukai lebih dari 30 lainnya. Muatan senjata berupa pecahan logam menghantam pasar, menembus jendela dan dinding serta melukai beberapa korban hingga tak dapat dikenali lagi.
Kurang dari dua jam kemudian, Presiden Volodymyr Zelensky menyalahkan “teroris” Rusia atas serangan tersebut, dan banyak media pun mengikuti jejaknya. Sepanjang invasinya ke Ukraina, Rusia telah berulang kali dan secara sistematis menyerang warga sipil dan menyerang sekolah, pasar, dan tempat tinggal sebagai taktik yang disengaja untuk menimbulkan rasa takut di masyarakat. Di Kostiantynivka pada bulan April, mereka menembaki rumah-rumah dan sebuah taman kanak-kanak, menewaskan enam orang.
Namun bukti yang dikumpulkan dan dianalisis oleh The New York Times, termasuk pecahan rudal, citra satelit, laporan saksi dan postingan media sosial, secara kuat menunjukkan bahwa serangan dahsyat tersebut adalah akibat dari rudal pertahanan udara Ukraina yang ditembakkan oleh sistem peluncuran Buk.
Serangan tersebut tampaknya merupakan sebuah kecelakaan tragis. Pakar pertahanan udara mengatakan rudal seperti yang ada di pasaran bisa keluar jalur karena berbagai alasan, termasuk kerusakan elektronik atau sirip pemandu yang rusak atau terpotong pada saat peluncuran.
Kemungkinan kegagalan rudal terjadi di tengah pertempuran sengit yang biasa terjadi di wilayah sekitarnya. Pasukan Rusia menembaki Kostiantynivka pada malam sebelumnya; Tembakan artileri Ukraina dari kota tersebut dilaporkan di grup Telegram lokal hanya beberapa menit sebelum serangan terhadap pasar.
Juru bicara angkatan bersenjata Ukraina mengatakan dinas keamanan negaranya sedang menyelidiki insiden tersebut, dan berdasarkan hukum nasional, mereka tidak dapat berkomentar lebih lanjut.
Ukrainian authorities initially tried to prevent journalists with The Times from accessing the missile debris and impact area in the strike’s immediate aftermath. But the reporters were eventually able to get to the scene, interview witnesses and collect remnants of the weapon used.
The Strike
Security camera footage shows that the missile flew into Kostiantynivka from the direction of Ukrainian-held territory, not from behind Russian lines.
As the sound of the approaching missile is heard, at least four pedestrians appear to simultaneously turn their heads toward the incoming sound. They face the camera — in the direction of Ukrainian-held territory. Moments before it strikes, the missile’s reflection is visible as it passes over two parked cars, showing it traveling from the northwest.
Hulu ledak rudal tersebut meledak beberapa meter di atas tanah sesaat sebelum tumbukan, meledakkan pecahan logam ke arah luar. Kawah yang dihasilkan dan kerusakan yang meluas dari titik ledakan konsisten dengan rudal yang datang dari arah barat laut, menurut pakar bahan peledak dan analisis Times.
A Suspected Ukrainian Launch Site
Further evidence reveals that minutes before the strike, the Ukrainian military launched two surface-to-air missiles toward the Russian front line from the town of Druzhkivka, 10 miles northwest of Kostiantynivka.
Reporters with The Times were in Druzhkivka when they heard an outgoing missile launch at 2 p.m., followed a few minutes later by a second. By chance, one member of the team recorded the first launch in a voice message
Warga di Druzhkivka juga melaporkan peluncuran yang dilakukan pada saat itu di grup Telegram lokal. “Satu lagi,” sebuah postingan pada pukul 14:03. katanya, mengacu pada peluncuran rudal kedua. Penduduk setempat yang berada di sekitar lokasi peluncuran menggambarkan ledakan tersebut sangat keras – melebihi suara perang yang biasa mereka dengar – sesuai dengan kesaksian para saksi mengenai peluncuran Buk di masa lalu.
Waktu peluncuran ini sesuai dengan jangka waktu peluncuran rudal yang memasuki pasar di Kostiantynivka, sekitar pukul 14:04.
Rudal Ukraina Kemungkinan Gagal Mencapai Sasaran
Peta di Ukraina Timur menunjukkan lokasi peluncuran rudal, lokasi serangan, dan wilayah yang diduduki Rusia.
Sumber: Institute for the Study of War dengan Proyek Ancaman Kritis American Enterprise Institute (wilayah yang dikuasai Rusia pada 6 September); OpenStreetMap (jalan raya)
Selain itu, dua saksi yang berbicara kepada The Times mengatakan mereka melihat rudal ditembakkan dari Druzhkivka ke arah garis depan Rusia sekitar waktu serangan; salah satu dari mereka mengatakan dia melihat rudal mengarah ke Kostiantynivka. Seorang tentara Ukraina yang ditempatkan di Druzhkivka, yang meminta untuk tidak disebutkan namanya, juga mengatakan dia mendengar dua peluncuran rudal pada waktu yang bersamaan.
Salah satu saksi juga mengatakan bahwa rudal tersebut diluncurkan dari ladang di pinggiran kota, tempat yang menurut penduduk digunakan oleh militer Ukraina dan sebelumnya mereka pernah melihat rudal pertahanan udara.
Wartawan Times yang mengunjungi lokasi tersebut melihat indikasi bahwa lokasi tersebut baru-baru ini digunakan oleh militer, termasuk parit, lubang sampah, dan jalur lebar yang sesuai dengan kendaraan militer besar.
Indikator penting lainnya: bekas hangus. Berbagai rudal pertahanan udara yang diluncurkan dari darat ditembakkan dari bagian belakang kendaraan besar dan membakar wilayah sekitarnya ketika ditembakkan. Analisis citra satelit sebelum dan sesudah menunjukkan tanda-tanda hangus baru di sekitar parit pada hari serangan, kemungkinan mengindikasikan bahwa lokasi tersebut digunakan untuk meluncurkan rudal.
Beberapa parit kecil digali di area yang menurut penduduk merupakan tempat militer Ukraina meluncurkan rudal pertahanan udara. Tanah baru-baru ini hangus dan rumput tampak rata diratakan oleh kendaraan besar. Kredit...The New York Times
Rudal
Setelah serangan itu, pihak berwenang Ukraina mengatakan pasukan Rusia menggunakan rudal yang ditembakkan oleh sistem pertahanan udara S-300, yang digunakan Rusia untuk mencegat pesawat dan menyerang sasaran di darat. Namun rudal S-300 membawa hulu ledak yang berbeda dari yang meledak di Kostiantynivka.
Bagian depan logam dari bangunan yang paling dekat dengan ledakan dilubangi dengan ratusan lubang persegi atau persegi panjang, kemungkinan dibuat oleh benda berbentuk kubus yang diledakkan keluar dari rudal.
Pengukuran lubang – dan pecahan yang ditemukan di tempat kejadian – konsisten dalam ukuran dan bentuk dengan satu senjata khususnya: rudal 9M38, yang ditembakkan oleh kendaraan antipesawat bergerak Buk. Ukraina diketahui menggunakan sistem Buk, begitu pula Rusia.
Beberapa lubang lebarnya kurang dari 10 milimeter, sementara lubang lainnya sedikit lebih besar. 9M38 berisi dua ukuran fragmen kubik logam padat yang berbeda: lebar delapan milimeter dan 13 milimeter.
Ukuran dan bentuk lubang tumbukan yang disebabkan oleh fragmentasi konsisten dengan rudal 9M38. Kredit... The New York Times
Sebuah kubus cacat yang ditarik keluar dari kawah konsisten dengan ukuran pecahan logam pada rudal pertahanan udara 9M38 yang ditembakkan oleh peluncur Buk. Penghargaan... The New York Times
Reporter Times juga meninjau pecahan rudal lain yang ditemukan dari beberapa lokasi di Ukraina yang telah ditembakkan oleh sistem pertahanan udara S-300, S-400 dan Buk Rusia, serta dua sistem pertahanan udara Amerika yang berbeda. Bentuk dan ukurannya menunjukkan bahwa kerusakan di lokasi pasar kemungkinan besar disebabkan oleh 9M38.
Dua ahli penjinak bom militer independen, yang meminta untuk tidak disebutkan namanya agar mereka dapat berbicara terus terang, sampai pada kesimpulan yang sama dan mengatakan bahwa pecahan dan kerusakan di lokasi serangan paling sesuai dengan 9M38.
Beberapa saksi mendengar atau melihat pasukan Ukraina menembakkan rudal permukaan-ke-udara dari Druzhkivka menuju Kostiantynivka pada saat terjadi pemogokan pasar. Dan bukti yang dikumpulkan di pasar menunjukkan bahwa rudal tersebut datang dari arah tersebut.
Alasan mengapa rudal tersebut, yang memiliki jangkauan maksimum lebih dari 17 mil, mendarat di Kostiantynivka masih belum jelas – meskipun ada kemungkinan rudal tersebut tidak berfungsi dan jatuh sebelum mencapai sasaran yang dituju.
Dalam kasus apa pun, pada jarak yang begitu dekat – kurang dari 10 mil – rudal tersebut kemungkinan besar mendarat dengan bahan bakar yang tidak terpakai di motor roketnya, yang akan meledak atau terbakar saat terkena benturan, sehingga memberikan kemungkinan penjelasan atas bekas hangus yang meluas di lokasi tersebut. pasar.
The Russian armed forces have destroyed ten Ukrainian armored vehicles while repulsing two enemy attacks near Rabotino in the Zaporozhye area, Vladimir Rogov , chairman of the 'We Are Together with Russia' saidmovement.
"The fighting has sharply intensified in the area between the settlements of Rabotino and Verbovoye.... Today there were two attacks. They were all repulsed, enemy armored vehicles were destroyed. At the moment we know about ten destroyed vehicles, these are armored combat vehicles," Rogov said.
According to him, after the destruction of the Ukrainian armored vehicles by the Russian forces, the Ukrainian servicemen withdrew to the forest, where they are exposed to Russian multiple rocket launchers and artillery.
"Obviously, the enemy is trying to intensify the fighting between the settlements of Rabotino and Verbovoye, suffering increasing losses, but without success, to say the least," Rogov added.
On Tuesday, Zaporozhye Region Acting Governor Yevgeny Balitsky reported the destruction of a column of Ukrainian armored vehicles near Rabotino. According to him, the enemy was trying to attack the villages of Novopokrovka and Ilchenkovo, located to the south and southeast of the settlement.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Ukrainian army has been making unsuccessful offensive attempts since June 4. On September 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Ukrainian armed forces had lost 71,500 servicemen, 543 tanks, and almost 18,000 armored vehicles. According to the head of state, the Ukrainian counteroffensive has failed.
Russia to Increase Production of Kinzhal Hypersonic Missiles
On September 19, Russia celebrates Gunsmith Day with soaring production of hypersonic missiles, meeting 100% of state defense contracts, Bekhan Ozdoev, the industrial director of Rostec's Armaments, Ammunition, and Special Chemicals Cluster, said.
The Rostec State Corporation’s defense enterprises are ramping up missile production for the Kinzhal hypersonic complex, the Iskander operational-tactical missile system, the Pantsir air defense system, as well as the production of aerial bombs, tank and artillery shells, armored vehicles, flamethrower systems, and multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), the director stressed.
According to Ozdoev, Rostec's defense enterprises are celebrating the professional holiday "in excellent shape." They are continuously, dynamically, and in accordance with the schedules agreed on with the Russian Defense Ministry, supplying equipment to the armed forces, often ahead of schedule, the director stated.
"Production volumes for various types of weapons have increased by 2 to 10 times, and in some cases even more. This growth can be seen primarily in tanks and combat vehicles based on them, lightly armored vehicles, rocket artillery systems, heavy flamethrower systems, thermal imaging and other optical devices, and strike equipment. This includes increased production of missiles for the 'Kinzhal,' 'Iskander,' and 'Pantsir' systems, aircraft bombs, artillery and tank shells, etc.," the director reported.
Rostec expects to fulfill 100% of this year's state defense contracts, Ozdoev emphasized.
"Our main task is to provide the troops in the Eastern Military District with everything they need. We are trying to work ahead of schedule. The forecast for the fulfillment of the state defense contract for this year is traditionally high, at the level of 100%," the director stressed.
Moreover, defense enterprises are developing next-generation projectiles, including guided ones, for the Malva self-propelled gun, which will give them an advantage over artillery from NATO countries, Rostec's official reported.
"At the same time, we are pursuing new developments in this area. In particular, we are creating a new generation of ammunition for the Malva self-propelled howitzer, including guided ammunition, which will give us an advantage over the artillery of NATO countries," Ozdoev said.
Furthermore, Rostec has delivered grenade launchers to troops ahead of schedule, the state corporation reported.
"Rostec's High Precision Systems Holding has delivered GM-94 grenade launchers to the troops ahead of schedule. This weapon is in high demand among assault troops in the special military operation zone, as it allows effective engagement of the enemy behind fortifications," the director highlighted.
The product developed by the Academician A.G. Shipunov Tula Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) has an impressive range of 43 mm ammunition, including fragmentation and thermobaric, according to Ozdoev. In addition, the GM-94 grenade launcher is safe for use by the shooter beyond a range of five meters from the explosion, enabling operations in densely-built urban areas and indoors, the director explained.
"The GM-94 grenade launcher is in strong demand in the special military operation zone due to its excellent ergonomics, light weight and manageable recoil. This is especially important for soldiers engaged in face-to-face combat with entrenched enemies. Thanks to the tireless and dedicated work of Tula's gunsmiths, a new batch has been delivered to the troops ahead of schedule," Ozdoev stated.
The GM-94 grenade launcher weighs less than five kg without ammunition, with a length of just over 80 centimeters with the stock extended, and less than 54 centimeters when folded, the Rostec official noted.
Russia's Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower boasts the ability to flush out enemy trenches and bunkers, as well as eliminate enemy personnel in open terrain and fortifications. This weapon is highly mobile and capable of hammering enemy positions while providing cover for advancing troops.
The Russian Defense Ministry has released a video of the TOS-1A Solntsepyok (‘Scorching Sunlight’) incinerating Ukrainian saboteurs trying to cross the Dnepr River.
Russian reconnaissance and UAV operators ferreted out these Ukrainian saboteurs, and then wiped them out with a surgical strike from the Solntsepek heavy flamethrower systems, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
Thermobaric ammunition belonging to flamethrower systems creates characteristic volumetric explosions, which are clearly visible in the footage.
Ukraine Loses 400 Troops in Donetsk, Zaporozhye Directions
Ukraine has lost up to 400 soldiers in the Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry stated on Tuesday.
The Russian forces repelled two attacks in the Donetsk direction near the settlements of Mayorsk and Kamyanka.
"Enemy losses [in the Donetsk direction] amounted to up to 255 military personnel killed and wounded, two armored combat vehicles and three cars. In addition, a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, two US-made M777 artillery systems, as well as a self-propelled howitzer Gvozdika were destroyed," the ministry said.
In the Zaporozhye direction Ukraine lost some 175 servicemen.
"During the day, more than 175 Ukrainian troops, two armored combat vehicles and two cars were destroyed in this direction. During the counter-battery struggle, two Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery mount, a US-made M777 artillery system, an Acacia self-propelled howitzer, two D-30 howitzers, as well as Msta-B and D-20 howitzers were hit," the ministry reported.
Moreover, the Russian forces repelled one attack by Ukrainian troops in the South Donetsk direction, where Kiev lost over 115 military, and fended off three attacks in the Krasny Liman direction, the ministry added.
