Russia’s fleet of assault helicopters is taking a beating by the hands of Ukraine’s moveable air protection techniques, the British Defense Ministry mentioned in its most up-to-date evaluation of the battle.
There have been at the very least 23 verified losses of Russia’s Ka-52 HOKUM assault helicopters in Ukraine for the reason that invasion, representing greater than 25% of Russia’s fleet of 90, the evaluation says. Dozens of different helicopters even have been shot down.
“Russia is still failing to maintain adequate air superiority in order to reliably carry out effective (airplane) support near the front line,” the evaluation says. “And its artillery ammunition is running low.”
Russian commanders are possible resorting to high-risk assault helicopter missions as one of many few choices accessible to supply shut help for troops in fight, the evaluation says.
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Other developments:
►Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the U.S.-led West of accelerating arms provides and offering intelligence to the Kyiv regime in an effort to “destroy our centuries-old national statehood.”
►Norway’s home safety company says it has detained a person who entered the nation as a Brazilian citizen however is suspected of being a Russian spy.
►German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Kyiv for his first go to to Ukraine for the reason that begin of Russia’s invasion. He mentioned he needed to “send a signal of solidarity to Ukrainians.” In April, Ukraine made it clear Steinmeier was not welcome because of his previous support of closer ties with Russia, which he later said was a mistake.
GRINER ‘VERY NERVOUS’:Brittney Griner’s drug expenses appeal in Russia: What we all know
White House blasts ‘sham’ Russian appeal hearing in Griner case
A Russian court docket’s rejection of Brittney Griner’s appeal of a nine-year prison sentence for drug possession means the WNBA basketball star will “continue to be wrongfully detained under intolerable circumstances after having to undergo another sham judicial proceeding today,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.
Sullivan said the administration was continuing to talk with Russian officials about a possible prisoner swap, and he lauded Griner’s family for “courage in the face of these unimaginable circumstances.”
Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, said the Russian court dispensed a quick resolution, unlike the appeals process in U.S. federal courts.
“Griner’s best hope now appears to be some form of prisoner swap with Russia,” he said.
Griner, who appeared in a Moscow-area courtroom via video link from a cell at her detention facility, was arrested Feb. 17 after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. Griner, 32, said she had inadvertently packed them in haste and that she had no criminal intent. One week after her arrest, Russia invaded Ukraine, and U.S.-Russia relations sank to a near-historic low, complicating efforts to free her.
Progressive Democrats take back request that Biden negotiate end to Russia’s war
Facing swift backlash for their timing and message, 30 progressive House Democrats on Tuesday withdrew the letter they sent President Joe Biden the day before urging him to negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Coming two weeks before the midterm elections and amid Russia’s increasingly desperate attempts to reverse course on the battlefield, the letter appeared to undermine U.S. help for Ukraine, urgent Biden to pursue “a proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to hunt a practical framework for a ceasefire.”
Many fellow Democrats and Ukrainian officers, who’ve mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin will not negotiate in good religion, denounced the letter, prompting the beautiful reversal. Biden has maintained that it is as much as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to determine the phrases of a peace take care of Russia.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, chairwoman of the Progressive Caucus, mentioned in a press release the letter was written months in the past and required additional vetting earlier than its launch. She additionally sought to distance its contents from final week’s feedback by GOP House Leader Kevin McCarthy that Republicans will not give Ukraine a “blank check” if they retake the House.
“The proximity of these statements created the unfortunate appearance that Democrats, who have strongly and unanimously supported and voted for every package of military, strategic and economic assistance to the Ukrainian people, are somehow aligned with Republicans who seek to pull the plug on American support for President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian forces,” Jayapal’s statement said.
Chechnyan leader wants Ukraine cities ‘wiped off the face of the Earth’
The Kremlin-backed head of the Russian region of Chechnya says the Russian military should destroy Ukraine cities in retaliation for Ukrainian shelling of Russian towns along the border.
Authorities in Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions have reported Ukrainian shelling that damaged infrastructure and residential buildings. Ramzan Kadyrov said on Telegram that if a “shell flies into our area, total cities have to be wiped off the face of the Earth in order that they don’t ever assume that they’ll hearth in our route.”
Kadyrov has been a frequent critic of the Russian navy effort. Earlier this month, Kadyrov mentioned Colonel-General Alexander Lapin needs to be fired after retreating from the Donetsk-region metropolis of Lyman.
“If I had my way I would have demoted Lapin to private, would have deprived him of his awards and would have sent him to the front line to wash off his shame with the rifle in his hands,” Kadyrov wrote on Telegram.
IAEA to examine two Ukrainian nuke crops after ‘soiled bomb’ claims
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi mentioned the company is making ready to examine two Ukrainian nuclear services amid Russia’s claims that Ukraine is creating a “dirty bomb.” Ukraine requested the inspection after its nuclear power firm Energoatom claimed that Russia was finishing up unauthorized building work close to the Zaporizhzhia plant’s Dry Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility. Energoatom warned that destruction of containers saved there might result in radiation contamination over a whole lot of sq. miles.
Contributing: The Associated Press
