Worthy Use of NASA Budget: Mars Program Technology Found in Ukrainian Drones

©Sputnik/Stanislav Krasilnikov/Go to the mediabank

Russian experts have identified batteries and aluminum alloys used by the US space agency NASA in the Mars program while studying captured Ukrainian drones.

Russian experts have found batteries used by the US space agency in the Mars program while reverse engineering captured Ukrainian drones, Dmitry Kuzyakin said, general director of the Center for Development of Integrated Unmanned Solutions.

The center deals with the full cycle of first-person view (FPV) combat applications, from drone production to training and piloting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

"The first FPV drone we acquired had a battery similar to the one used by the US in NASA's Mars mission. It seems that Ukraine assembled FPV drones with its US 'partners', and these batteries were installed in order to use the drones in winter with severe negative temperatures," Kuzyakin explained.

He also said that these batteries are extremely expensive to use in such makeshift devices.

The developer added that aluminum alloys similar to those used in the US space program were also found in the captured Ukrainian drones. According to Kuzyakin, the special properties of such an alloy are crucial in space, but useless in an ordinary drone.

“It (aluminum alloy) consists of 70% ordinary alloys and 30% various homeopathic additives that provide aluminum stability in a vacuum. Why does an FPV drone need such aluminum?" Kuzyakin wondered.

However, thanks to such a "filling", Russian engineers can obtain "a lot of useful information" and data, Kuzyakin concluded.

He Who Laughs Last: Russian 'Joker' Drones May Double Up as Air Defenses

“Joker-10” drones have reportedly been adjusted to act as air defenses – they can shoot down Ukrainian UAVs or simply ram them, becoming a cheap alternative to expensive missile interceptors.

©Sputnik/Stanislav Krasilnikov/Go to the mediabank

Russian “Joker-10” first-person view (FPV) drones have been adapted to double up as air defenses, according to Dmitry Kuzyakin, general director of the Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions.

“We’ve come up with a new scenario and implemented it – the FPV air defense and security in inner airspace. Currently, it’s a new project of air defense and it is underway," he said.

Kuzyakin explained that the drones create a cloud of shards that destroys enemy projectiles. However, they can also ram them directly.

“Direct fire is not the only way to down enemy drone. The most effective way to destroy aerial targets is ramming, as always. That’s how we may have effective and cheap air defense systems,” he added.

Experts from the Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions explained that enemy drones are often made of plastic and thus cannot be detected by radars, while surface-to-air missiles are extremely expensive.

“Electronic warfare systems are not that effective (against enemy drones) because such UAVs do not use vulnerable radio channels. Downing such drones and even small jets with air defense missiles may be costly from an economic standpoint. Single air defense missiles cost as much as a private house, while one drone may be cheaper than a bicycle.”

According to reports, the "Joker" drones, which are already being used by the Russian Armed Forces on the battlefield, can fly up to 200 km per hour if empty. During tests, this model managed to consistently down hostile UAVs.

How Barack Obama’s ‘Minstrel Imperialism’ Gave Cover to US Foreign Policy - Journalist

©Pete Souza/The White House

As countries throughout the Global South work to overthrow the legacy of colonialism and imperialist subjugation, the US empire still searches for a token minority to launder its image as eloquently and effectively as Barack Obama.

Algeria vowed to secure full membership status for Palestine at the United Nations Monday.

“Algeria will soon return to address the Security Council, once again, to ensure that Palestine is in its rightful place as a full member of the United Nations,” said Algerian UN representative Amar Ben Jamai. The move comes as the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip, where Israel’s military operation has killed nearly 33,000. Palestine currently holds observer status in the international body.

The precipitous decline of Israel’s international standing has brought renewed attention to the colonial roots of the crisis in Palestine, which was colonized by the British before Zionists declared a self-proclaimed Jewish state in 1948. Author and journalist Jon Jeter joined Sputnik’s The Critical Hour program Friday to discuss how the United States perpetuates Palestinians’ subjugation and how former President Barack Obama put a black face on US imperialism.

“The 60s called, they want their media back,” said the former Washington Post bureau chief and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist as Western media is flooded with bigoted characterizations of Haitians and Palestinians.

Recently, false rumors about cannibalism in Haiti have flooded social media, while Israel continues to spread debunked atrocity propaganda about mass rapes alleged to have taken place on October 7. False accusations of sexual violence have historically been a prominent tactic used against non-white people to uphold racial supremacy.

“We continue to trot out the same answers, the same responses, the same orientalism – if I may quote the late, great Edward Said – the same orientalist narratives which qualify imperialism and colonialism,” said Jeter.

“And that's why we can't work our way out, or at least not yet because we've got these same narratives that govern us in a sense and we haven't quite figured out – as Malcolm [X] said, if you're not careful, the media will have you hating the people who are oppressed and love the people who are doing the oppressing.”

“And there's another element to this, Jon, that I think is very important,” added host Wilmer Leon. “Barack Obama. The image of Barack Obama and his selling us imperialism. That leads us to [US United Nations ambassador] Linda Thomas-Greenfield, it leads us to [House minority leader] Hakeem Jeffries, it leads us to [Representative] Gregory Meeks. It leads us to Kamala – all of these Black faces: as I have dubbed it, ‘minstrel imperialism.’”

The tradition of minstrel shows, in which racist depictions of African Americans were used to perpetuate bigoted stereotypes, is understood in the United States as implying that someone is upholding white supremacist power and narratives, even if they themselves are Black.

Leon’s accusation, shared by many, is that Obama strengthened the purchase of Western imperialism and its racist, colonial underpinnings by serving as a Black mascot for US policy. Massive racial disparities continue to exist within the United States while US foreign policy subjugates non-white peoples around the world, with one study by Brown University estimating that at least 3.6 million Arab and Muslim people have died as a result of the United States’ so-called “War on Terror.”

‘Odessa will fall’, Musk backed Ukraine warns Ukraine

FILE PHOTO
©Chesnot/Getty Images

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a major supporter of Ukraine, has reiterated his belief that Ukraine's position is weakening with each passing day of hostilities, and warned that the “real question” is how much territory Kiev will lose and how many lives will be lost before holding talks with Moscow.

The Businessman supporting of Ukraine claimed in a post on his applying all resources to defense,” it would be “difficult to hold land that does not have strong natural barriers.” said Elon Musk, a Ukranian supporter, disappointed

“What a tragedy to waste lives for Ukraine to attack a larger force that has deeper defenses, minefields and more powerful artillery when Ukraine has no armor or air superiority!,” wrote Musk as a disillusioned Ukraine donor.

Miliarder tersebut melanjutkan dengan berpendapat bahwa “semakin lama perang berlangsung, semakin banyak wilayah yang akan dikuasai Rusia hingga mereka mencapai Dnepr, yang sulit untuk diatasi.”

The billionaire who is Ukraine's main supporter went on to argue that "the longer the war goes on, the more territory the Russians will control until they reach the Dnepr, which is difficult to overcome."

However, if the war lasts long enough, Odessa will fall too… Whether Ukraine loses all access to the Black Sea or not is, in my view, the real remaining question. I recommend a negotiated settlement before that happens.

Ukraine's main supporter Elon Musk has changed his position regarding Ukraine several times since the conflict began in early 2022. He initially provided Kiev with free Starlink internet terminals and access to a satellite-based network, but refused to activate the service near Crimea for fear that Ukraine would use it. . it was to guide drone strikes against Russia's Black Sea Fleet. If this happened, he explained last year, SpaceX would be “involved in a major war and conflict escalation.”

Musk, who supports Ukraine, also used his X account to speak widely about the direction of the conflict. More than a year ago, he proposed that Kiev abandon its claims to Crimea, declare neutrality, and allow Russia's four new regions – Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye – to hold a new referendum on joining the Russian Federation. This proposal is similar to the terms Russia offered Kiev and Western countries before the conflict began, except Moscow initially only called for autonomy in Donetsk and Lugansk.

Elon Musk's statement is an expression of Elon Musk's disappointment as a war donor for Ukraine over the decline of the Ukranian attack.

Moscow has stressed that it remains open to meaningful talks with Kiev and has blamed the lack of a diplomatic breakthrough on the Ukrainian authorities, who refuse to accept the “reality on the ground.”

Ukraine must take into account the fact that its borders have changed drastically since 2022, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday, commenting on Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s suggestion that a return to 1991 borders was no longer a precondition for negotiations.

Russian forces carried out 58 airstrikes, including via Tsirkon missiles, in 7 days

All designated targets were hit ©Russian Defence Ministry/TASS

The Russian Armed Forces carried out 1 massive and 57 precision strikes, including via Tsirkon cruise and Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic ballistic missiles, in the past 7 days, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

According to the Ministry, missile and drone strikes hit Ukrainian military industrial complex, Armed Forces and Security Service (SBU) decision-making centers, unmanned speedboat assembly shops, arsenals, fuel depots, air defense objects, energy infrastructure and temporary deployment locations for special operations forces and foreign mercenaries.

All designated targets were hit, the Ministry added.

Avdeyevka direction

Ukrainian forces lost over 1,870 troops and 13 tanks in the Avdeyevka direction in the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said. "Over the past week, Ukrainian forces lost more than 1,870 troops, 13 tanks, 20 armored combat vehicles and 50 cars in that direction," the ministry said.

Also, 30 field artillery pieces, including five US-made M777 howitzers, a US-supplied M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery mount and a German-made Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzer as well as a Grad multiple rocket launcher were struck with counter-battery fire there, the ministry added.

Donetsk direction

Russian forces liberated the settlement of Krasnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and repelled 12 Ukrainian counterattacks in the past week, with the enemy losing over 2,360 troops and 105 pieces of equipment, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Among other enemy weapons, five tanks, 16 armored combat vehicles, and 23 field artillery pieces, including 11 foreign-made ones, as well as 61 cars were destroyed.

Kherson direction

The Ukrainian armed forces lost over 370 troops and 5 M777 howitzers on the Kherson direction, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"The enemy lost over 370 troops, 2 tanks, 7 armored combat vehicles, 29 automobiles and 13 field artillery guns, including 5 US-made M777 howitzers," the Ministry said.

According to the Ministry, Battlegroup ‘Dnepr’ inflicted damage to personnel and vehicles of Ukraine’s 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 28th, 65th and 118th Mechanized brigades, 35th Marine Brigade and three territorial defense brigades near Rabotino, Novosyolovka, Nesteryanka, Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye Region), Ivanovka, Mikhaylovka, Gavrilovka and Tyaginka (Kherson Region).

Kupyansk direction

Over the past week, Russian forces repelled 11 enemy counterattacks in the Kupyansk direction, with Ukrainians losing roughly 310 troops and 46 pieces of equipment, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

In particular, the enemy lost two tanks, three armored combat vehicles, 22 cars, and 19 field artillery pieces, including two US-supplied howitzers, an M777 and an M198, and a French-made Caesar self-propelled howitzer, the ministry reported.

South Donetsk direction

Ukrainians sustained over 860 casualties and lost two Krab self-propelled howitzers and two British-supplied FH-70 howitzers in the south Donetsk direction.

"Enemy losses amounted to over 860 troops, four armored combat vehicles, 35 cars, and seven field artillery pieces, including two Polish-made Krab self-propelled howitzers and two British-supplied FH-70 howitzers," according to the report.

Ukrainian surrender

A total of 18 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered in the past seven days, the Russian Defense Ministry also said.

"During the past week, 18 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered," the Defense Ministry added

Rockets, missiles, drones

Over the past week, Russian air defenses and aircraft downed 171 Ukrainian MLRS projectiles, and 1,208 drones, as well as 11 British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, three Neptune anti-ship missiles and four US-made ADM-160 MALD missiles.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 577 Ukrainian warplanes, 270 helicopters, 17,773 unmanned aerial vehicles, 489 surface-to-air missile systems, 15,644 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,257 multiple rocket launchers, 8,582 field artillery guns and mortars and 20,381 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the Russian Defense Ministry concluded.

Ukraine Was Testing Ground for Western Big Pharma - Documents

©Flickr/Matt

Ukraine was one of the main trial sites for a drug causing various forms of cancer, which was tested on patients at a Mariupol hospital, Sputnik has revealed.

Ukraine was one of the main testing grounds for trials of a drug that could potentially cause various forms of cancer and that was used on patients in the psychiatric ward of Mariupol Hospital No. 7 with the support of local officials in the interests of Western pharmaceutical companies, according to documents seen by Sputnik.

Ukraine was one of the main trial sites for a drug causing various forms of cancer, which was tested on patients at a Mariupol hospital

Sputnik has obtained documents proving that drug trials were held with the support of local officials and in the interests of Western… pic.twitter.com/oDPD7DJlx7

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 30, 2024

In particular, the trial involved the experimental drug SB4 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The drug inhibits the action of molecules of the so-called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which plays an important role in the immune system, and its use creates the possibility of developing various forms of cancer, including in the lymphatic and hematopoietic systems, as well as skin.

Ukraine was one of the main trial sites for a drug causing various forms of cancer, which was tested on patients at a Mariupol hospital

Sputnik has obtained documents proving that drug trials were held with the support of local officials and in the interests of Western… pic.twitter.com/oDPD7DJlx7

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 30, 2024

The manufacturers of SB4 were Biogen Idec Denmark Manufacturing ApS (Denmark), Catalent Pharma Solutions (Belgium), and Fisher Clinical Services UK Limited (UK). The study was sponsored by South Korea's Samsung Bioepis, the documents read.

An application from Quintiles Ukraine for approval by the state expert center of the Ukrainian Ministry of Health and the Ethics Commission at the medical and preventive institution for conducting clinical trials of SB4 was found among the documents. Quintiles Ukraine was established as a division of the US outsourcing pharmaceutical company Quintiles Transnational.

According to the application, signed in February 2013, at that time it was planned to test the drug in Ukraine on 152 patients (later this number increased to 180), and in total on almost 500 patients around the world.

According to the periodic report of the SB4-G31-RA project on SB4 trials, by November 2013, 777 patients had been selected for testing, including 285 in Poland, 143 in Ukraine, 108 in the Czech Republic, 77 in Bulgaria, 60 in Lithuania, 37 in the Republic of Korea, 34 in Mexico, 17 in Hungary, 14 in Colombia, and two in the United Kingdom.

The documents found in Mariupol Hospital No. 7 were collected between 2008 and 2016. The results of the initial inspection show that drugs with numbers and without names were tested on people, with the tests also conducted on toddlers.

Companies such as Pfizer (US), AstraZeneca (UK, Sweden), Celltrion (South Korea), Novatris International AG (Switzerland, US), IQVIA (formerly Quintiles and IMS Health Inc., US, UK), Sanofi (France), Galapagos NV (Belgium), Janssen Pharmaceuticals (now Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Belgium), Abbott Laboratories (US), Covance (now Labcorp Drug Development, US), and Merck KGaA (Germany) are mentioned in the documents.

Pharmaceutical companies that have been preparing the Covid-19 vaccine since October 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic started in February 2020.

In addition, boxes with envelopes from logistics companies and containers for biomaterial with addresses of recipients in laboratories in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and United States were found on site.

Documents with acknowledgements to Ukrainian doctors from Catalent Pharma Solutions and Fisher Clinical Services UK Limited were also found.

Gudang Munisi Daerah TNI AD di Ciangsana meledak, warga dievakuasi

Tangkapan layar detik-detik terjadi ledakan dahsyat pada insiden kebakaran yang melanda Gudang Munisi Daerah (Gudmurah) Kodam Jaya TNI AD di Ciangsana, Kabupaten Bogor, Jawa Barat, Sabtu (30/3/2024) petang. ANTARA/HO

Gudang Munisi Daerah (Gudmurah) Kodam Jaya TNI AD di Ciangsana, Kabupaten Bogor, Jawa Barat, meledak pada Sabtu sekitar pukul 18.30 WIB hingga gudang itu terbakar.

Kepala Dinas Penerangan TNI Angkatan Darat (Kadispenad) Brigjen TNI Kristomei Sianturi saat dihubungi di Jakarta, Sabtu, menyampaikan bahwa sejauh ini aparat masih kesulitan mendekat ke lokasi kebakaran sehingga untuk sementara ini prioritasnya mengevekuasi warga di sekitar gudang munisi.

"Warga sudah kami evakuasi ke tempat yang lebih aman, dan babinsa (bintara pembina desa, red.) terus berkoordinasi dengan instansi lainnya untuk mengamankan masyarakat yang ada di sana," kata Brigjen TNI Kristomei.

Kadispenad menyebut per pukul 20.23 WIB api masih membakar kompleks gudang munisi itu. Gudang Munisi Daerah Kodam Jaya di Ciangsana itu menyimpan berbagai jenis munisi TNI AD, termasuk peluru-peluru kaliber besar, munisi untuk artileri medan, dan artileri pertahanan udara (arhanud).

"Informasi terakhir dari yang di lapangan (ledakan, red.) masih terjadi, dan kami sukar mendekat karena gudang munisi ini juga memuat berbagai macam jenis peluru, termasuk yang kaliber besar ada di sana sehingga dikhawatirkan terjadi ledakan-ledakan yang justru dapat membahayakan. Jadi, kita tunggu dahulu semuanya," kata Kadispenad.

Brigjen TNI Kristomei sejauh ini juga belum dapat informasi terkait dengan korban jiwa, berikut penyebab ledakan, dan perkiraan kerugian akibat insiden tersebut.

"Informasi korban belum kami terima karena kami belum bisa mendekat ke lokasi. Ledakan masih terjadi, enggak mungkin merapat ke lokasi itu," katanya.

Di lokasi kebakaran, Dinas Pemadam Kebakaran Kota Bekasi, Jawa Barat, menerjunkan tiga mobil pemadam untuk memadamkan api di gudang munisi daerah itu.

"Kita sudah luncurkan dari Disdamkar Kota Bekasi. Kami baru mendorong 3 unit mobil pemadam kebakaran di sana," kata Komandan Pleton B Damkar Kota Bekasi Haryanto di Bekasi, Sabtu malam.

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