southfront--2020-07-14--Assad Sends Pantsir Air Defense Systems To Counter Turkey In Libya

The Syrian government seems to be deploying Pantsir-S1 air defense systems to Libya to assist forces of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in their battle against the Turkish-controlled Government of National Accord .
An unusual Pantisr-S1 air defense system was for the first time spotted in Libya last week , when local activists released a video of a Libyan National Army convoy moving towards the port city of Sirte besieged by Turkish-led forces .
A spokesman for the GNA forces in the region , Brig .
Abdul Hadi Draa , also said that the Pantsir-S1 systems and other weapons were deployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of the convoys moving towards the airport included the Pantsir-S1 system on the unusual KAMAZ-6560 8×8 chassis .
Previously , all the Pantsir-S1 systems operated by the LNA were based on the German MAN SX 45 8×8 chassis .
This variant was supplied by Russia to the UAE , which later supplied systems to the LNA .
Other discriminant marks of the filmed Pantsir-S1 were a desert yellow paint and the older passive electronically scanned array search radar .
The only country in the Middle East that operates Pantsir-S1 systems with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army is Syria .
Earlier in 2020 , Syria officially established diplomatic ties with the House of Representatives , a democratically elected body that supports the Libyan National Army and manages the daily social and economic life in the territories controlled by it .
Damascus also sees the Libyan National Army and the House of Representatives as a natural ally because they also fight against the occupation of their country by Turkey .
In the last few weeks , Syrian Il-76 cargo planes made several unusual flights between Damascus International Airport and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The base is known to be hosting service members of the UAE that are involved in the assist and advice mission to support Haftar ’ s forces .
The Pantsir-S1 system spotted on the road to Sirte may have been shipped from Syria to Libya during one of these flights .
At the same time , the Syrian government currently have good relations with Egypt , the UAE – the main backers of the Libyan National Army , and obviously with Russia – the producer of Pantsir-S1 systems and the country that provides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the conflict .
The Syrian Air Defense Forces operate dozens of Pantsir-S1 systems .
Most of the Syrian systems are equipped with the advanced active electronically scanned array search radar .
Therefore , Damascus may have opted to sell a part of its older systems to Haftar .
If this is confirmed , this move will likely allow Syria to improve its relations with the Libyan National Army , the UAE and Egypt , complicate Turkish plans to capture Srite , and last but not least strengthen the Syrian regional positions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war inside the country .

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The Syrian government seems to be deploying Pantsir-S1 air defense systems to Libya to assist forces of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in their battle against the Turkish-controlled Government of National Accord.
An unusual Pantisr-S1 air defense system was for the first time spotted in Libya last week, when local activists released a video of a Libyan National Army convoy moving towards the port city of Sirte besieged by Turkish-led forces.
A spokesman for the GNA forces in the region, Brig. Abdul Hadi Draa, also said that the Pantsir-S1 systems and other weapons were deployed at the Sirte airport on July 11. One of the convoys moving towards the airport included the Pantsir-S1 system on the unusual KAMAZ-6560 8×8 chassis. Previously, all the Pantsir-S1 systems operated by the LNA were based on the German MAN SX 45 8×8 chassis. This variant was supplied by Russia to the UAE, which later supplied systems to the LNA.
Other discriminant marks of the filmed Pantsir-S1 were a desert yellow paint and the older passive electronically scanned array search radar. The only country in the Middle East that operates Pantsir-S1 systems with such specifications and supports the Libyan National Army is Syria.
Earlier in 2020, Syria officially established diplomatic ties with the House of Representatives, a democratically elected body that supports the Libyan National Army and manages the daily social and economic life in the territories controlled by it.
Damascus also sees the Libyan National Army and the House of Representatives as a natural ally because they also fight against the occupation of their country by Turkey.
In the last few weeks, Syrian Il-76 cargo planes made several unusual flights between Damascus International Airport and the al-Khadim Air Base in northeast Libya. The base is known to be hosting service members of the UAE that are involved in the assist and advice mission to support Haftar’s forces. The Pantsir-S1 system spotted on the road to Sirte may have been shipped from Syria to Libya during one of these flights.
At the same time, the Syrian government currently have good relations with Egypt, the UAE – the main backers of the Libyan National Army, and obviously with Russia – the producer of Pantsir-S1 systems and the country that provides background diplomatic support to the UAE-Egypt bloc in the conflict.
The Syrian Air Defense Forces operate dozens of Pantsir-S1 systems. Most of the Syrian systems are equipped with the advanced active electronically scanned array search radar. Therefore, Damascus may have opted to sell a part of its older systems to Haftar.
If this is confirmed, this move will likely allow Syria to improve its relations with the Libyan National Army, the UAE and Egypt, complicate Turkish plans to capture Srite, and last but not least strengthen the Syrian regional positions, which were significantly undermined by the ongoing war inside the country.
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southfront--2020-07-14--Military Situation In Iraq On July 13, 2020 (Map Update)

Still waiting for this ‘ major resurgence from a newly reformed Daesh ‘ , that all the ‘ experts ’ @ @ @ @ @ have been saying is going to happen for the past year or so .

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
The number of Turkish soldiers killed in Iraqi Kurdistan increased to 5, according to Turkish Defence Ministry;
The Saraya Thurat al-Ashrin al-Thaniyah group attacked an US Army logistic convoy en route from Diwaniyah to Al-Samawah, on July 11;
Iraqi forces cleared 7 villages, destroyed 4 dens and 5 ISIS tunnels, found 17 explosive devices during the second day of the operation “Iraqi Heros”;
The PMU forces cleared the Hussein Al-Jassem region, Imam Abbas and Ahmad Ahmadi districts in Diyala province;
2 PMU soldiers were killed by an IED explosion near the city of Muqdadiyah in Diyala province.
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southfront--2020-07-14--Military And Commercial Space Race, Regulatory Vacuum Threaten Viability Of Future Space Activities

The space frontier is becoming increasingly congested with space craft and orbital debris as more and more countries and corporate ventures race to secure a competitive military or commercial advantage over their rivals .
However , international negotiations to develop accepted norms and requirements are hampered by rival national and corporate interests and objectives , and many activities continue to occur in a regulatory vacuum .
Beyond the risk of degrading the utility and viability of the space commons more generally , two recent reports emphasize the dangers posed by the militarization of space in the absence of universally recognized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility of disastrous confrontations or accidents .
While the US and the Soviet Union enjoyed a virtual duopoly of space for many years , many countries now have advanced space programs , including India , Iran , North Korea , France , Japan , and Israel .
Moreover , space has now become a lucrative venture for many commercial operators , further multiplying the number of spacecraft and resultant space junk occupying the militarily and commercially useful zones of space .
More than 1,950 active satellites are currently orbiting Earth , and plenty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reduced costs and growing competition has seen an increasing number of commercial satellites reaching Earth ’ s orbit , which – unlike national space programmes – don ’ t recognize national boundaries .
While commercially viable activities such as mining in space and space tourism have not yet advanced significantly , space ventures by private companies include a growing number of private firms offering satellite launch capabilities to private clients and national governments .
This has helped the spread of satellite technology to countries that lack the resources to develop space programmes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , compiled by the Union of Concerned Scientists , shows that as of November 2018 the United States had 830 registered units in orbit .
That number almost exceeds the combined total of the rest of the top ten .
China follows with 280 , and Russia is third with 147 .
LINK Surprisingly , Luxembourg operates more active satellites than large European countries like Germany , Spain and Italy .
The principality recently launched the Luxembourg Space Agency ( LSA ) , which uses the launch capabilities of industry partners to enable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the rush to get more hardware into orbit has resulted in an exponential growth in the amount of orbital debris , or space junk , which can drift for many years and is a potential hazard for other satellites .
There have already been several costly collisions which have resulted in debris spreading into space .
Another potential problem is radio frequency interference .
When satellites are too close to each other and are transmitting on the same frequency , communications signals can be distorted or even deliberately jammed .
Satellites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the military , which reflects a growing trend of the private sector becoming more involved in space technology .
To ensure long-term sustainability of outer space activities , the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space ( COPUOS ) is drawing up best practice guidelines .
While it is widely recognised that all parties involved – companies , governments and policymakers – have a duty to improve governance in space , progress remains slow in reaching agreement on how best to manage the growing use of space .
LINK Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of spacecraft and debris is the militarization of space .
Two recent reports note that the biggest players in space have upgraded their military abilities , including satellite-destroying weapons and technologies that disrupt spacecraft , by , for instance , blocking data collection or transmission .
Destroying a single satellite would scatter a large amount of debris throughout the atmosphere .
Such an explosion could hurl projectiles in the paths of other spacecraft and threaten the accessibility of space for everyone .
The two latest reports were conducted by the Secure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and International Studies ( CSIS ) .
In April Iran ’ s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a successful launch of what it described as a military reconnaissance satellite .
That satellite joined a growing list of weapons and military systems in orbit , including those from Russia ( which in April tested a missile program designed to destroy satellites ) and India ( which launched an anti-satellite weapon in March 2019 ) .
Experts agree that China has also made substantial progress in anti-satellite technology .
The new reports use available evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapons that various countries ’ militaries are developing or testing—or already have operational .
( However , a major omission is that the CSIS ’ s report doesn ’ t include the US military . )
Each nation has unique abilities and characteristics .
For example , India has invested heavily in space infrastructure and capabilities , while Japan ’ s post–World War II space activities were limited until a recent change to its constitution .
For Israel ’ s space program , a representative of the Secure World Foundation said , very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , the thousands of non-military satellites that are in low-Earth orbits , below an altitude of 1,200 miles , could potentially suffer collateral damage .
More than half of those satellites are from the US ; many of the rest are from China and Russia .
They provide key services like internet access , GPS signals , long-distance communications , and weather information .
Any missile that smashes into a satellite—either as an attack or during a test—would disperse thousands of bits of debris .
Any one of those pieces , still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out another spacecraft and create yet more debris .
When China conducted an anti-satellite missile test in 2007 , it created a massive cloud of space junk that drew international condemnation .
India ’ s engineers tried to limit debris from their recent test by conducting it at a low altitude , so that Earth ’ s gravity would pull the pieces down and they would burn up on descent .
But some pieces were flung up to the International Space Station ’ s orbit .
Numerous countries are now developing new military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instance , is working on laser beams that could blind another country ’ s satellite , preventing it from taking pictures of classified targets .
North Korea is studying how to jam radio frequency signals sent to or from a satellite , and many countries are devising cyber-attacks that could interfere with satellite systems , particularly the big three space heavyweights—the U.S. , Russia , and China .
The big three have also begun to master what the reports call “ rendezvous and proximity operations , ” which involve using satellites as surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manoeuvre close to a rival ’ s classified satellite to damage its equipment or disrupt its operations , thereby rendering it useless .
So far , there are relatively few international policies or norms about what ’ s allowed in modern-day space and what ’ s not .
The Secure World Foundation report notes that an incident or misunderstanding could escalate tensions if it ’ s perceived as an attack .
Existing international laws offer little guidance for modern military technology in space .
While these rules—including the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Outer Space Treaty of 1967—prohibit weapons of mass destruction in space , they don ’ t explicitly limit or stipulate acceptable norms for other kinds of space weapons , tests , or military space forces .
The Secure World Foundation suggests that international organizations could create new guidelines by developing something like the Incidents at Sea agreement , which the US and the Soviet Union signed during the Cold War to maintain safe distances between ships and avoid collisions or incidents in heavy traffic .
But until similar rules involving space weaponry are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satellite tests will inevitably fuel speculation and paranoia , and the possibility of misunderstandings or provocative manoeuvres escalating into military confrontations is heightened .
LINK MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Apocalypse soon ?
US still scrambling and surging to develop new high tech weapons systems • The US is leaving the Open Skies Treaty

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The space frontier is becoming increasingly congested with space craft and orbital debris as more and more countries and corporate ventures race to secure a competitive military or commercial advantage over their rivals. However, international negotiations to develop accepted norms and requirements are hampered by rival national and corporate interests and objectives, and many activities continue to occur in a regulatory vacuum. Beyond the risk of degrading the utility and viability of the space commons more generally, two recent reports emphasize the dangers posed by the militarization of space in the absence of universally recognized norms and obligations designed to minimize the possibility of disastrous confrontations or accidents.
While the US and the Soviet Union enjoyed a virtual duopoly of space for many years, many countries now have advanced space programs, including India, Iran, North Korea, France, Japan, and Israel. Moreover, space has now become a lucrative venture for many commercial operators, further multiplying the number of spacecraft and resultant space junk occupying the militarily and commercially useful zones of space.
More than 1,950 active satellites are currently orbiting Earth, and plenty more will soon be joining them. Reduced costs and growing competition has seen an increasing number of commercial satellites reaching Earth’s orbit, which – unlike national space programmes – don’t recognize national boundaries.
While commercially viable activities such as mining in space and space tourism have not yet advanced significantly, space ventures by private companies include a growing number of private firms offering satellite launch capabilities to private clients and national governments. This has helped the spread of satellite technology to countries that lack the resources to develop space programmes of their own.
The UCS Satellite Database, compiled by the Union of Concerned Scientists, shows that as of November 2018 the United States had 830 registered units in orbit. That number almost exceeds the combined total of the rest of the top ten. China follows with 280, and Russia is third with 147. LINK
Surprisingly, Luxembourg operates more active satellites than large European countries like Germany, Spain and Italy. The principality recently launched the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), which uses the launch capabilities of industry partners to enable entrepreneurs to fulfil their commercial space goals.
But the rush to get more hardware into orbit has resulted in an exponential growth in the amount of orbital debris, or space junk, which can drift for many years and is a potential hazard for other satellites. There have already been several costly collisions which have resulted in debris spreading into space.
Another potential problem is radio frequency interference. When satellites are too close to each other and are transmitting on the same frequency, communications signals can be distorted or even deliberately jammed.
Satellites owned by companies heavily outnumber those used by the military, which reflects a growing trend of the private sector becoming more involved in space technology.
To ensure long-term sustainability of outer space activities, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) is drawing up best practice guidelines. While it is widely recognised that all parties involved – companies, governments and policymakers – have a duty to improve governance in space, progress remains slow in reaching agreement on how best to manage the growing use of space. LINK
Even more concerning than the generalized explosion in the number of spacecraft and debris is the militarization of space. Two recent reports note that the biggest players in space have upgraded their military abilities, including satellite-destroying weapons and technologies that disrupt spacecraft, by, for instance, blocking data collection or transmission. Destroying a single satellite would scatter a large amount of debris throughout the atmosphere. Such an explosion could hurl projectiles in the paths of other spacecraft and threaten the accessibility of space for everyone.
The two latest reports were conducted by the Secure World Foundation and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
In April Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a successful launch of what it described as a military reconnaissance satellite. That satellite joined a growing list of weapons and military systems in orbit, including those from Russia (which in April tested a missile program designed to destroy satellites) and India (which launched an anti-satellite weapon in March 2019). Experts agree that China has also made substantial progress in anti-satellite technology.
The new reports use available evidence and intelligence to explore a range of weapons that various countries’ militaries are developing or testing—or already have operational. (However, a major omission is that the CSIS’s report doesn’t include the US military.) Each nation has unique abilities and characteristics. For example, India has invested heavily in space infrastructure and capabilities, while Japan’s post–World War II space activities were limited until a recent change to its constitution.
For Israel’s space program, a representative of the Secure World Foundation said, very little reliable data is available.
Despite the rapid expansion of military applications and spacecraft – and the array of new space weapons—relevant policies and regulatory bodies have remained stagnant. “What worries us in the international community is that there aren’t necessarily any guardrails for how people are going to start interfering with others’ space systems,” said Daniel Porras, a space security fellow at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in Geneva. “There are no rules of engagement.” Potential missile attacks on military satellites “tend to get most of the attention, but that is not all that we see happening around the world,” said Todd Harrison, director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS and a principal author of its report, in April.
For example, the thousands of non-military satellites that are in low-Earth orbits, below an altitude of 1,200 miles, could potentially suffer collateral damage. More than half of those satellites are from the US; many of the rest are from China and Russia. They provide key services like internet access, GPS signals, long-distance communications, and weather information. Any missile that smashes into a satellite—either as an attack or during a test—would disperse thousands of bits of debris. Any one of those pieces, still hurtling at orbital speeds, could take out another spacecraft and create yet more debris.
When China conducted an anti-satellite missile test in 2007, it created a massive cloud of space junk that drew international condemnation. India’s engineers tried to limit debris from their recent test by conducting it at a low altitude, so that Earth’s gravity would pull the pieces down and they would burn up on descent. But some pieces were flung up to the International Space Station’s orbit.
Numerous countries are now developing new military technologies for space. France, for instance, is working on laser beams that could blind another country’s satellite, preventing it from taking pictures of classified targets. North Korea is studying how to jam radio frequency signals sent to or from a satellite, and many countries are devising cyber-attacks that could interfere with satellite systems, particularly the big three space heavyweights—the U.S., Russia, and China.
The big three have also begun to master what the reports call “rendezvous and proximity operations,” which involve using satellites as surveillance devices or weapons. A satellite could manoeuvre close to a rival’s classified satellite to damage its equipment or disrupt its operations, thereby rendering it useless.
So far, there are relatively few international policies or norms about what’s allowed in modern-day space and what’s not. The Secure World Foundation report notes that an incident or misunderstanding could escalate tensions if it’s perceived as an attack.
Existing international laws offer little guidance for modern military technology in space. While these rules—including the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963 and the UN’s Outer Space Treaty of 1967—prohibit weapons of mass destruction in space, they don’t explicitly limit or stipulate acceptable norms for other kinds of space weapons, tests, or military space forces.
The Secure World Foundation suggests that international organizations could create new guidelines by developing something like the Incidents at Sea agreement, which the US and the Soviet Union signed during the Cold War to maintain safe distances between ships and avoid collisions or incidents in heavy traffic. But until similar rules involving space weaponry are hammered out, he said, unexpected satellite tests will inevitably fuel speculation and paranoia, and the possibility of misunderstandings or provocative manoeuvres escalating into military confrontations is heightened. LINK
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southfront--2020-07-14--Massive Fire Broke Out In Egypt’s Shuqair-Mostorod Crude Oil Pipeline (Videos)

Too often big systems has no good program for everythingg is well procuces and kept in shape .
So happenings like this was not an accident but can be predicted .
If I fx go to USA its about the same thing for Corona as well as climate changes .
The systems to avoid things are not good enough or non existing .
When things happen – and they will , there is no well structured and well educated reserved with the needed emergency equiment .
I partly can understand it for USA .
It was created as a high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for themselves in the name of that kind of freedom .
But what I dont understand is , that the high productivity and GDP is not voted into a little more safety .
As written before .
USA next time will get Biden but they need a Sanders .
USA cant develllop ands grow well , when old systems are not compensated/repaired well or replaced by something better .
There are too many of that kind of incidents .
Tempting to compare those fx with SDF “ staling oil deom themself ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year .
Russia has a big one in a river .

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On July 14, a massive fire broke out in Egypt’s Shuqair-Mostorod crude oil pipeline. According to the country’s health ministry, at least 12 people were injured.
The petroleum ministry statement said that a spark caused by cars driving along the road set crude oil leaking from the pipe on fire. According to authorities, the fire was brought under control. The videos from the site demonstrates the scale of the incident:
"بيت المهمل يخرب قبل بيت الظالم"
الاستغاثات والتحذيرات من وقوع الكارثة على طريق القاهرة اسماعيلية، كانت كتير وكان ممكن تتلحق، بس محدش اهتم واتساب خط مازوت ممتد من موقف العاشر .. الفيديو اثبات على الإهمال في حالة أي تحقيق#مصر_الإسماعيلية pic.twitter.com/qZrrYfkB7e — Muhamed Arafa ? (@sindbad593) July 14, 2020
حريق هائل يلتهم السيارات على طريق #مصر_الإسماعيلية الصحراوي pic.twitter.com/vaRF1pI4WT — اليوم السابع (@youm7) July 14, 2020
حريق هائل يلتهم السيارات على طريق #مصر_الإسماعيلية الصحراوي pic.twitter.com/MqsGq6Exmc — المدار نيوز (@NewsMadar) July 14, 2020
#مصر_الإسماعيلية
صور قبل الحريقة بحوالي ساعة تم إرسال بلاغات واستغاثات بانفجار خط البترول اللي جنب توكيل بيجو بجوار موقف العاشر وللأسف محدش اتحرك وحصلت الكارثة pic.twitter.com/nkA8N7KE9v — رياض باشا المنفلوطي? (@RiadManfalouti) July 14, 2020
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southfront--2020-07-14--Ukrainian Schismatics Trying To Spoil Relations Between Russian And Romanian Churches—Russian Church

Ukrainian Schismatics Trying To Spoil Relations Between Russian And Romanian Churches—Russian Church Rep

The schismatics of the “ Orthodox Church of Ukraine ” ( OCU ) are using the case of a “ bishop ” who left the OCU to return to Philaret Denisenko ’ s “ Kiev Patriarchate ” ( KP ) to start a fight and spoil relations between the Russian and Romanian Orthodox Churches , believes Vladimir Legoida , the head of the Moscow Patriarchate ’ s Synodal Department for Relations Between the Church , Society , and the Media .
, the official KP website announced the return of “ Bishop ” Philaret Panku of Fălești and East Moldova @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OCU , after Denisenko himself abandoned the OCU to relaunch his KP the previous June .
The next day , the Synod of the OCU “ retired ” Panku , though the KP considers that he is now under no obligation to obey the OCU Synod .
Panku later of a number of deceptions .
Having learned that Philaret Panku secretly traveled to Kiev to visit “ Patriarch ” Philaret Denisenko and declared his refusal to obey the dictates of the OCU , the Synod of the OCU resolved to officially exclude Panku @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moreover , the OCU Synod made the curious decision to give His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania the right to judge the further canonical status of Panku , as Moldova is included within the territory of the Romanian Orthodox Church .
Recall that the Romanian Orthodox Church has never recognized the OCU as an Orthodox Church and is not in communion with it .
Furthermore , Philaret Panku has never been a clergyman of the Romanian Church and has no relationship to it .
“ Several conclusions and questions flow from this step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Firstly , by expelling Panku for returning to the KP , the OCU thereby recognizes the existence of the KP , which it had previously refused to do , insisting that “ Patriarch ” Philaret Denisenko is still a hierarch of the OCU .
“ Secondly , by entrusting the fate of Panku to the Romanian Patriarchate , Epiphany seems to be trying to somehow establish relations with the Romanian Church , which has not yet recognized the schismatic Church and doesn ’ t seem to be planning on it .
Probably , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to aggravate relations between the Russian and Romanian Churches , ” the Russian Church speaker stressed .
It will be interesting to see how the Romanian Church responds , Legoida writes .
“ It ’ s not clear what the Romanian Church has to do with it at all , ” he comments , noting that according to the tomos of autocephaly granted to the OCU by the Patriarchate of Constantinople , all parishes of the KP and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church ( the two churches that merged into the OCU ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the jurisdiction of Constantinople .
“ According to the ‘ tomos , ’ Panku should be handled by none other than Patriarch Bartholomew , ” explains Legoida .
But Pat .
Bartholomew either does not have the strength and authority , or Epiphany himself does not respect the Patriarch and the tomos granted by him , “ which then raises the question of the termination of this document , ” Legoida writes .
In any case , it is clear that Pat .
Bartholomew failed to achieve his goal of uniting Ukrainian Orthodoxy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one canonical Church—the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine—and two schismatic churches , and the situation remains the same now after the granting of the tomos .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Patriarch Of Constantinople Made Bet And Lost .
Overtures To West Undermined Patriarchy Positions In East

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Originally appeared on OrthoChristian.com
The schismatics of the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” (OCU) are using the case of a “bishop” who left the OCU to return to Philaret Denisenko’s “Kiev Patriarchate” (KP) to start a fight and spoil relations between the Russian and Romanian Orthodox Churches, believes Vladimir Legoida, the head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Synodal Department for Relations Between the Church, Society, and the Media.
On February 3 , the official KP website announced the return of “Bishop” Philaret Panku of Fălești and East Moldova to Denisenko’s group from the OCU, after Denisenko himself abandoned the OCU to relaunch his KP the previous June. The next day, the Synod of the OCU “retired” Panku, though the KP considers that he is now under no obligation to obey the OCU Synod. Panku later accused the OCU of a number of deceptions.
Having learned that Philaret Panku secretly traveled to Kiev to visit “Patriarch” Philaret Denisenko and declared his refusal to obey the dictates of the OCU, the Synod of the OCU resolved to officially exclude Panku from the ranks of its hierarchs on July 9 .
Moreover, the OCU Synod made the curious decision to give His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania the right to judge the further canonical status of Panku, as Moldova is included within the territory of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Recall that the Romanian Orthodox Church has never recognized the OCU as an Orthodox Church and is not in communion with it. Furthermore, Philaret Panku has never been a clergyman of the Romanian Church and has no relationship to it.
“Several conclusions and questions flow from this step,” Vladimir Legoida commented on his Telegram channel.
Firstly, by expelling Panku for returning to the KP, the OCU thereby recognizes the existence of the KP, which it had previously refused to do, insisting that “Patriarch” Philaret Denisenko is still a hierarch of the OCU .
“Secondly, by entrusting the fate of Panku to the Romanian Patriarchate, Epiphany seems to be trying to somehow establish relations with the Romanian Church, which has not yet recognized the schismatic Church and doesn’t seem to be planning on it. Probably, the head of the OCU would like to aggravate relations between the Russian and Romanian Churches,” the Russian Church speaker stressed.
It will be interesting to see how the Romanian Church responds, Legoida writes.
“It’s not clear what the Romanian Church has to do with it at all,” he comments, noting that according to the tomos of autocephaly granted to the OCU by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, all parishes of the KP and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (the two churches that merged into the OCU) outside of Ukraine were to move to the jurisdiction of Constantinople.
“According to the ‘tomos,’ Panku should be handled by none other than Patriarch Bartholomew,” explains Legoida.
But Pat. Bartholomew either does not have the strength and authority, or Epiphany himself does not respect the Patriarch and the tomos granted by him, “which then raises the question of the termination of this document,” Legoida writes.
In any case, it is clear that Pat. Bartholomew failed to achieve his goal of uniting Ukrainian Orthodoxy, as before the tomos there was one canonical Church—the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine—and two schismatic churches, and the situation remains the same now after the granting of the tomos.
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southfront--2020-07-14--First Person Video Shows Moment Of Car Bomb Attack On Turkish-Russian Convoy In Syria’s Idlib

Russian AF has already bombed the shit out of them..
The Russian Air Force has issued its response to the attempted militant drone strikes on the Hmeimim Airbase over the weekend , as their warplanes hammered the jihadist rebel positions in the Jabal Al-Akrad and Jisr Al-Shughour regions .
According to a field report from the Latakia Governorate , the Russian warplanes carried out several airstrikes over the jihadist stronghold of Kabani , resulting in the destruction of bases and trenches .
The report said the Russian Air Force then carried out several airstrikes along the Latakia-Idlib axis , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Turkestan Islamic Party ( TIP ) and the Al-Qaeda-linked Hurras Al-Deen group .
At the same time , Russian warplanes were seen flying over the Jabal Al-Zawiya region of southern Idlib .
These reconnaissance flights were likely giving the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) coordinates of the jihadist rebels in Jabal Al-Zawiya , as the latter later launched several artillery and missile strikes against the militants there .
Over the weekend , the jihadist rebels attempted to bomb the largest Russian airbase in Syria , Hmeimim ( Khmeimim ) , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It should be pointed out that the jihadist drone strikes on the Hmeimim Airbase were unsuccessful , as they were foiled by the joint air defenses of the Russian and Syrian armed forces .

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On July 14, a car bomb (with a suicide bomber) exploded on the way of a joint Russian-Turkish patrol on the M4 highway in Syria’s southern Idlib. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, 3 Russian troops were injured in the attack. The Turkish Defense Ministry reported that nobody was killed in the attack, but two vehicles suffered partial damage. MORE HERE
The video below shows how the explosion that caused this ‘partial damage’ looked on the ground.
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southfront--2020-07-14--Saudi Regime Is Balancing On Brink Of Collapse Amid Economic Crisis And Setbacks In Yemeni War

Saudi Arabia has become a hostage of its own military campaign in Yemen .
The Kingdom suffers from both its own inability to achieve a military victory in the conflict and regular losses from the retaliatory actions of the Houthis .
At the same time , the Saudi leadership has no opportunity to withdraw from the conflict and abandon its proxies there because this will undermine its already shaky position in the region and cause a wide-scale political crisis inside Saudi Arabia itself .
The impact from such a crisis will be especially devastating .
Over the past years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times due to the economy slowing down and the acute struggle for power within the Saudi elites .
In 2020 , with the global economic crisis and the COVID-19 outbreak , the situation inside Saudi Arabia became even more complicated .
On July 13 , the Houthis announced that they had conducted a new combined missile and drone strike on targets inside the Kingdom .
According to Brigadier General Yahya Sari , a spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Houthi government , the strikes hit the following targets : • positions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelters and the housing complex for pilots at Khamis Mushait ; Additionally , Brigadier General Sari said that missiles and drones hit the Saudi-operated Tadawin camp in the Yemeni province of Marib during the meeting between Saudi officers and leaders of Saudi-backed forces .
Dozens of members of Saudi-led forces were killed and injured in the attack , according to Brigadier General Sari .
The Houthis warned that they will continue their strikes on Saudi Arabia utill the end of the Saudi-led blockade of Yemen .
This is the second Houthi strike on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month .
On June 23 , Houthi forces launched missiles and drones at military targets near the Saudi capital of Riyadh .
Commenting on the July 13 incident , the Saudi military claimed that it had intercepted 8 “ booby-trapped ” drones and four ballistic missiles launched towards Saudi Arabia .
The coalition often denies any losses or casualties as a result of Houthi strikes and works to censor data appearing through social media networks .
However , results of the previous Houthi strikes and the success rate of Patriot missile systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this statement may be an ordinary attempt to cover yet another military failure .
On July 1 , Saudi Arabia announced the start of a new air bombing campaign to neutralize and destroy the offensive capabilities of the Houthis , first of all its missile and drone arsenal .
Since then , multiple Saudi airstrikes have hit the provinces of Saada , Ma ’ rib , al-Jawf , Hajjah , al-Bayda as well as on the Yemeni capital of Sanaa .
Many of the hit targets were located in urban areas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the targets destroyed .
On July 2 , Col. Turki al-Maliki , a spokesman for the coalition , declared that the first round of airstrikes destroyed ballistic missile and drone storage facilities , assembly workshops and communication stations of the Houthis .
On July 3 , the coalition announced that its warplanes had destroyed two booby-trapped boats 6km south of Salif Port in the province of al-Hudaydah .
The Houthis slammed Saudi claims as propaganda claiming that most of the bombed targets were civilian ones .
In particular , Brigadier General Sari said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a salt factory .
The July 13 strike on Saudi Arabia contributes to the version that the Saudi coalition at least overestimated results of its bombing campaign .
At the same time , the Houthis continued successful offensive operations against Saudi-backed forces in the provinces of Marib and al-Bayda .
In the current conditions , the further development of the conflict creates a real threat that the Kingdom ’ s leadership will not only loose the campaign in Yemen , but will struggle to deal with a Houthi offensive in the south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may eventually lead to the collapse of the current Saudi regime .

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Saudi Arabia has become a hostage of its own military campaign in Yemen. The Kingdom suffers from both its own inability to achieve a military victory in the conflict and regular losses from the retaliatory actions of the Houthis. At the same time, the Saudi leadership has no opportunity to withdraw from the conflict and abandon its proxies there because this will undermine its already shaky position in the region and cause a wide-scale political crisis inside Saudi Arabia itself. The impact from such a crisis will be especially devastating.
Over the past years, the Kingdom has been passing through turbulent times due to the economy slowing down and the acute struggle for power within the Saudi elites. In 2020, with the global economic crisis and the COVID-19 outbreak, the situation inside Saudi Arabia became even more complicated.
On July 13, the Houthis announced that they had conducted a new combined missile and drone strike on targets inside the Kingdom. According to Brigadier General Yahya Sari, a spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Houthi government, the strikes hit the following targets:
positions of US-made Patriot missile systems, warplanes’ shelters and the housing complex for pilots at Khamis Mushait;
military sections of Abha, Jizan and Najran airports;
the oil infrastructure in Jizan.
Additionally, Brigadier General Sari said that missiles and drones hit the Saudi-operated Tadawin camp in the Yemeni province of Marib during the meeting between Saudi officers and leaders of Saudi-backed forces. Dozens of members of Saudi-led forces were killed and injured in the attack, according to Brigadier General Sari.
The Houthis warned that they will continue their strikes on Saudi Arabia utill the end of the Saudi-led blockade of Yemen. This is the second Houthi strike on targets inside the Kingdom in less than a month. On June 23, Houthi forces launched missiles and drones at military targets near the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
Commenting on the July 13 incident, the Saudi military claimed that it had intercepted 8 “booby-trapped” drones and four ballistic missiles launched towards Saudi Arabia. The coalition often denies any losses or casualties as a result of Houthi strikes and works to censor data appearing through social media networks. However, results of the previous Houthi strikes and the success rate of Patriot missile systems deployed in Saudi Arabia are a sign that this statement may be an ordinary attempt to cover yet another military failure.
On July 1, Saudi Arabia announced the start of a new air bombing campaign to neutralize and destroy the offensive capabilities of the Houthis, first of all its missile and drone arsenal. Since then, multiple Saudi airstrikes have hit the provinces of Saada, Ma’rib, al-Jawf, Hajjah, al-Bayda as well as on the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. Many of the hit targets were located in urban areas. The Saudi coalition provided few details regarding the targets destroyed.
On July 2, Col. Turki al-Maliki, a spokesman for the coalition, declared that the first round of airstrikes destroyed ballistic missile and drone storage facilities, assembly workshops and communication stations of the Houthis. On July 3, the coalition announced that its warplanes had destroyed two booby-trapped boats 6km south of Salif Port in the province of al-Hudaydah.
The Houthis slammed Saudi claims as propaganda claiming that most of the bombed targets were civilian ones. In particular, Brigadier General Sari said the July 3 strike hit fishing boats and a salt factory. The July 13 strike on Saudi Arabia contributes to the version that the Saudi coalition at least overestimated results of its bombing campaign.
At the same time, the Houthis continued successful offensive operations against Saudi-backed forces in the provinces of Marib and al-Bayda.
In the current conditions, the further development of the conflict creates a real threat that the Kingdom’s leadership will not only loose the campaign in Yemen, but will struggle to deal with a Houthi offensive in the south of Saudi Arabia. Such a scenario may eventually lead to the collapse of the current Saudi regime.
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southfront--2020-07-14--Military Situation In Afghanistan On July 14, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan : • At least five @ @ @ @ @ others were wounded by a blast in Surobi district of Kabul province ; • According @ @ @ @ @ soldier died in Afghanistan as a result of a non-combat-related incident in southern Kandahar province @ @ @ @ @ • The Taliban attacked security bases in Kunduz and Badakhshan provinces , killing at least @ @ @ @ @ The Taliban attacked an ANDSF intelligence compound in northern Samangan , killing 12 people and @ @ @ @ @ civilians .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan:
At least five people were killed and eleven others were wounded by a blast in Surobi district of Kabul province;
According to Pentagon, an American soldier died in Afghanistan as a result of a non-combat-related incident in southern Kandahar province, on July 12;
The Taliban attacked security bases in Kunduz and Badakhshan provinces, killing at least 19 Afghan soldiers;
The Taliban attacked an ANDSF intelligence compound in northern Samangan, killing 12 people and injuring 63 others, mostly civilians.
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southfront--2020-07-14--Military Situation In Libya On July 14, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Libya : • Libyan House of @ @ @ @ @ Egypt to intervene militarily if Turkey crosses the ” red line ” fixed last month @ @ @ @ @ ; • Turkish Foreign Minister stressed that military operations would resume if Haftar ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Sirte and Jufrah .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Libya:
Libyan House of Representatives passed a resolution requiring Egypt to intervene militarily if Turkey crosses the”red line” fixed last month by Egyptian president El Sisi;
Turkish Foreign Minister stressed that military operations would resume if Haftar’s forces do not retreat from Sirte and Jufrah.
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southfront--2020-07-14--Tensions Growing Between SDF And Arab Tribes On Eastern Bank Of Euphrates

Tensions are growing between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and Arab tribes on the eastern bank of the Euphrates .
@ @ @ @ @ shared by the pro-opposition outlet Deir Ezzore Now , the Kurdish group , which captured @ @ @ @ @ represent interests of the people .
In turn , the statement says , the SDF @ @ @ @ @ existing system of social relations in order to consolidate own control over the captured areas @ @ @ @ @ presence of the SDF and the US-led coalition in eastern Syria accusing them of attempting @ @ @ @ @ cultural aggression .
The tensions between the US-backed Kurdish leadership and the general population on @ @ @ @ @ .
However , these tensions have recently increased .
The SDF and the US-led coalition @ @ @ @ @ ISIS ’ , which is supposedly defeated .
So , the US-backed Kurdish-dominated group is @ @ @ @ @ the local resistance to its pro-US , anti-Syrian course .
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Tensions are growing between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and Arab tribes on the eastern bank of the Euphrates.
According to a joint statement shared by the pro-opposition outlet Deir Ezzore Now, the Kurdish group, which captured the region, does not represent interests of the people. In turn, the statement says, the SDF is trying to destroy the existing system of social relations in order to consolidate own control over the captured areas. The statement rejects the presence of the SDF and the US-led coalition in eastern Syria accusing them of attempting to demographic, political and cultural aggression.
#ديرالزور بيان لأهالي المنطقة الشرقية يرفضون فيه المناهج الجديدة التي أدخلتها قسد. pic.twitter.com/4VFJzZ1frs — Deir Ezzore Now (@DeirEzzorNow) July 13, 2020
The tensions between the US-backed Kurdish leadership and the general population on eastern Syria is no secret. However, these tensions have recently increased. The SDF and the US-led coalition are no more ‘fighting ISIS’, which is supposedly defeated. So, the US-backed Kurdish-dominated group is now mostly tasked with supressing the local resistance to its pro-US, anti-Syrian course.
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southfront--2020-07-14--That Sinking Feeling: Ukraine’s Naval And Coastal Forces

In few areas are Russia ’ s and Ukraine ’ s divergent fortunes as evident as in naval armaments .
Whereas the Russian Navy has overcome the malaise of the 1990s and went on to introduce new classes of warships , including state-of-the-art missile frigates , attack submarines , and the mysterious “ Poseidon-carriers ” , Ukraine has gone in the opposite direction , in spite of having begun in roughly the same shape and in possession of the Nikolayev Shipyard , where all manner of ships up to and including aircraft carriers were built .
The never-finished Slava-class guided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disintegrating at that shipyard has come to symbolize not only the fate of Ukraine ’ s navy but the country itself .
The fleet ’ s flagship Hetman Sahaydachny , a former Soviet maritime border guard frigate , has seen considerable time underway in better times , even participating in multinational anti-piracy missions off the Horn of Africa .
After 2014 , its condition rapidly declined even though it nominally participated in Sea Breeze exercises with NATO as late as 2018 .
While it is currently officially being refitted with new electronic equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service in 2021 , the ship ’ s future is still in doubt .
While there was some discussion concerning the construction of a squadron of 2,000 missile corvettes fitted with both Western and Ukrainian weapons and electronics , for understandable reasons that project never progressed very far .
Ukraine and United States have reportedly held discussions on the acquisition of one or two Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates but , even if these elderly ships were to be transferred to Ukraine for free , the country would still face massive problems trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the systems and weapons not being compatible with anything else currently in use by Ukraine .
Moreover , the Perries were designed as low-cost anti-submarine escorts for use in the Atlantic , and are suitable for operations close to hostile coastlines where their weak anti-air and anti-surface weaponry becomes a liability .
Thus the future of Ukraine ’ s navy as a blue-water force looks fairly bleak , with no modern vessels in service or projected for acquisition .
That state of affairs appears to satisfy the official Kiev , under whose leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , coastal force whose main areas of interest are offshore economic zones of the Black Sea and the efforts to control the Sea of Azov .
While the phrase “ mosquito fleet ” originated in Great Britain during World War 2 as a description of Royal Navy ’ s vast force of motor torpedo- and gun-boats , Ukraine ’ s media has attached it on more than one occasion to the lackluster collection of small craft in use by Ukraine ’ s naval forces .
Even though fast attack craft inherited from USSR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ships , here at least there are replacement ships being built and procured .
The best known of these “ mosquitoes ” are the Gyurza-M armored gunboats that , so far at least , proved to be less than impressive .
Armed with two remote-control weapons stations with 30mm cannon and anti-tank guided missiles , their effectiveness is badly limited by low seaworthiness .
Two of them were captured by Russia ’ s coast guard during an unsanctioned and unsafe attempt to cross under the Kerch Bridge and reach Mariupol .
Twenty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t look as if that number will be reached .
Instead , Ukraine ’ s attention has moved on to other , possibly more dangerous vessels .
The Centaur class is slightly smaller than the Gyurza-M , at 47 tons versus 54 tons , but it is significantly faster , with the claimed top speed of 50 knots being twice of that of the Gyurzas .
And even though the armament of heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers , backed by 80mm rocket pods , seems less impressive , their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 28 soldiers these boats can carry .
Combined with the Mark VI patrol boats that Ukraine is procuring from the United States , which are a lightly armed but very fast boats also capable of carrying troops , Ukraine ’ s navy appears to be acquiring the ability to launch surprise amphibious raids of up to battalion of light infantry in strength , once the fleet of these boats grows in size in the coming years .
While certainly not a major force in absolute terms , it is just enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flank that rests on the Sea of Azov coastline .
Eight Centaurs are reported as planned , and the first two boats are undergoing sea trials .
Complementing Ukraine ’ s naval strike and raiding ability is the Neptun anti-ship missile derived from Russia ’ s Kh-35 Uran , though with significant differences and possibly also collaboration with Turkey which is developing its own Harpoon-based anti-ship cruise missile at the same time , and/or with assistance from other NATO member states .
The Neptun has passed a number of tests , including one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and appears to be meeting its development goals without major problems .
The missile ’ s size means it theoretically could arm Ukrainian navy ’ s still-extant post-Soviet surface ships , but their age and lack of replacement means that it is more likely to see service as a coast artillery weapon which could readily provide Ukraine with some serious firepower in the Sea of Azov .
The Neptun is described as able to strike both naval and land targets , suggesting a combination of active radar guidance combined with GPS .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shores of Sea of Azov , it could be used to shut down large swaths of the Sea of Azov under the guise of live-fire exercises .
But arguably the worst-case scenario is the use of the missile against the Kerch Bridge , which is located within the 300km range of the Ukraine-controlled Azov coastline .
One can readily imagine an MH17-style scenario in which a Ukrainian missile strikes and damages the bridge , with the attack then being attributed—with full NATO support—to a training accident or even a “ Russian missile ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy attack to respond to , as it would require Russian military strikes against targets on Ukraine ’ s territory that would elicit highly predictable NATO reaction .
It would also be a difficult attack to defend against , requiring the deployment of anti-missile weapons like the Pantsir-S and Tor which might not guarantee protection against a surprise attack by a highly subsonic , sea-skimming missile relying on GPS or even simply inertial guidance and not advertising own presence by radar emissions .
Moreover , Neptun will give Ukraine the ability to launch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in DPR/LPR .
In combination with the Vilkha rocket system and the Grom short-range ballistic missile , this weapon is part of Ukraine ’ s emerging deep-strike missile arsenal .
The abortive Gyurza-M raid into the Sea of Azov and the NATO ’ s unwillingness to become directly embroiled in the Sea of Azov conflict do not mean we have seen the last of the provocations .
Bolstered by US financial and material assistance , Ukraine is building up offensive capabilities for use in the littoral regions of that body of water .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same league as Russia ’ s , Ukraine ’ s growing ability to launch high-speed naval raids and long-range missile strikes represents a more difficult challenge to counter than its deteriorating land forces .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Leaked Tapes Confirm Poroshenko Ordered Terroirst Attacks In Crimea , Meddled In US Presidential Election And More • Prospects Of Ukrainian Army Offensive On Donetsk And Lugansk People ’ s Republic

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Written by J.Hawk exclusively for SouthFront
“De-Communization”
In few areas are Russia’s and Ukraine’s divergent fortunes as evident as in naval armaments. Whereas the Russian Navy has overcome the malaise of the 1990s and went on to introduce new classes of warships, including state-of-the-art missile frigates, attack submarines, and the mysterious “Poseidon-carriers”, Ukraine has gone in the opposite direction, in spite of having begun in roughly the same shape and in possession of the Nikolayev Shipyard, where all manner of ships up to and including aircraft carriers were built. The never-finished Slava-class guided missile cruiser Ukraina that is still slowly disintegrating at that shipyard has come to symbolize not only the fate of Ukraine’s navy but the country itself.
The fleet’s flagship Hetman Sahaydachny, a former Soviet maritime border guard frigate, has seen considerable time underway in better times, even participating in multinational anti-piracy missions off the Horn of Africa. After 2014, its condition rapidly declined even though it nominally participated in Sea Breeze exercises with NATO as late as 2018. While it is currently officially being refitted with new electronic equipment and is scheduled to return to active service in 2021, the ship’s future is still in doubt. While there was some discussion concerning the construction of a squadron of 2,000 missile corvettes fitted with both Western and Ukrainian weapons and electronics, for understandable reasons that project never progressed very far. Ukraine and United States have reportedly held discussions on the acquisition of one or two Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates but, even if these elderly ships were to be transferred to Ukraine for free, the country would still face massive problems trying to crew and operate them, due to the systems and weapons not being compatible with anything else currently in use by Ukraine. Moreover, the Perries were designed as low-cost anti-submarine escorts for use in the Atlantic, and are suitable for operations close to hostile coastlines where their weak anti-air and anti-surface weaponry becomes a liability.
Thus the future of Ukraine’s navy as a blue-water force looks fairly bleak, with no modern vessels in service or projected for acquisition. That state of affairs appears to satisfy the official Kiev, under whose leadership the navy became more of a littoral, coastal force whose main areas of interest are offshore economic zones of the Black Sea and the efforts to control the Sea of Azov.
Mosquito Fleet
While the phrase “mosquito fleet” originated in Great Britain during World War 2 as a description of Royal Navy’s vast force of motor torpedo- and gun-boats, Ukraine’s media has attached it on more than one occasion to the lackluster collection of small craft in use by Ukraine’s naval forces. Even though fast attack craft inherited from USSR have fared little better than the larger ships, here at least there are replacement ships being built and procured.
The best known of these “mosquitoes” are the Gyurza-M armored gunboats that, so far at least, proved to be less than impressive. Armed with two remote-control weapons stations with 30mm cannon and anti-tank guided missiles, their effectiveness is badly limited by low seaworthiness. Two of them were captured by Russia’s coast guard during an unsanctioned and unsafe attempt to cross under the Kerch Bridge and reach Mariupol. Twenty of these vessels were planned, but it doesn’t look as if that number will be reached. Instead, Ukraine’s attention has moved on to other, possibly more dangerous vessels.
The Centaur class is slightly smaller than the Gyurza-M, at 47 tons versus 54 tons, but it is significantly faster, with the claimed top speed of 50 knots being twice of that of the Gyurzas. And even though the armament of heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers, backed by 80mm rocket pods, seems less impressive, their “business end” is a platoon of 28 soldiers these boats can carry.
Combined with the Mark VI patrol boats that Ukraine is procuring from the United States, which are a lightly armed but very fast boats also capable of carrying troops, Ukraine’s navy appears to be acquiring the ability to launch surprise amphibious raids of up to battalion of light infantry in strength, once the fleet of these boats grows in size in the coming years. While certainly not a major force in absolute terms, it is just enough to exert pressure on DPR’s southern flank that rests on the Sea of Azov coastline. Eight Centaurs are reported as planned, and the first two boats are undergoing sea trials.
Poor Man’s Tomahawk
Complementing Ukraine’s naval strike and raiding ability is the Neptun anti-ship missile derived from Russia’s Kh-35 Uran, though with significant differences and possibly also collaboration with Turkey which is developing its own Harpoon-based anti-ship cruise missile at the same time, and/or with assistance from other NATO member states. The Neptun has passed a number of tests, including one live-fire one against a simulated naval target, and appears to be meeting its development goals without major problems. The missile’s size means it theoretically could arm Ukrainian navy’s still-extant post-Soviet surface ships, but their age and lack of replacement means that it is more likely to see service as a coast artillery weapon which could readily provide Ukraine with some serious firepower in the Sea of Azov.
The Neptun is described as able to strike both naval and land targets, suggesting a combination of active radar guidance combined with GPS. If deployed in land-based form on the shores of Sea of Azov, it could be used to shut down large swaths of the Sea of Azov under the guise of live-fire exercises. But arguably the worst-case scenario is the use of the missile against the Kerch Bridge, which is located within the 300km range of the Ukraine-controlled Azov coastline. One can readily imagine an MH17-style scenario in which a Ukrainian missile strikes and damages the bridge, with the attack then being attributed—with full NATO support—to a training accident or even a “Russian missile”. It would also not be an easy attack to respond to, as it would require Russian military strikes against targets on Ukraine’s territory that would elicit highly predictable NATO reaction. It would also be a difficult attack to defend against, requiring the deployment of anti-missile weapons like the Pantsir-S and Tor which might not guarantee protection against a surprise attack by a highly subsonic, sea-skimming missile relying on GPS or even simply inertial guidance and not advertising own presence by radar emissions.
Moreover, Neptun will give Ukraine the ability to launch relatively precise missile strikes against high-value targets in DPR/LPR. In combination with the Vilkha rocket system and the Grom short-range ballistic missile, this weapon is part of Ukraine’s emerging deep-strike missile arsenal.
Conclusion
The abortive Gyurza-M raid into the Sea of Azov and the NATO’s unwillingness to become directly embroiled in the Sea of Azov conflict do not mean we have seen the last of the provocations. Bolstered by US financial and material assistance, Ukraine is building up offensive capabilities for use in the littoral regions of that body of water. While its military capabilities are not in the same league as Russia’s, Ukraine’s growing ability to launch high-speed naval raids and long-range missile strikes represents a more difficult challenge to counter than its deteriorating land forces.
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southfront--2020-07-14--Armenian-Azerbaijani Clashes Risk To Escalate Into Regional Conflict. At Least One General Already K

Armenian-Azerbaijani Clashes Risk To Escalate Into Regional Conflict. At Least One General Already Killed (Videos)

The conflict between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the border area of Tovuz on the border between two countries has been developing since July 12 .
Both sides have been actively employing artillery and heavy weapons and accuse each other of provoking the conflict .
The Azerbaijani military reported that Major General Gashimov Polad and Colonel Ilgar Mirzaev were killed in clashes with Armenian forces on July 14 morning .
Azerbaijan ’ s Defense Ministry said that a total of 7 personnel have been killed in the fighting .
Kerim Veliyev , deputy defense minister , claimed that nearly 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period .
The Armenian side denies any casualties caliming that it was successfully repelling the ‘ Azerbaijani agression ’ .
At the same time , Baku insists that Armenian forces , supposedly responsible for the escalation , also suffered casualties .
The Turkish Defense Ministry already declared its full support to Azerbaijan , condemned the ‘ Armenian agression ’ and vowed to assist Baku in the ongoing military standoff .
It ’ s expected that Turkey and Azerbaijan will expand its military cooperation and further due to the developing conflict .
Ankara will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and weapons to Baku .
The Collective Security Treaty Organization , a security bloc that includes Armenia , Belarus , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Russia , Tajikistan , condemned the clashes and called on the sides to abide the ceasefire regime .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is deeply concerned by the clashes .
“ We are deeply concerned about the shootings on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border .
We call on both sides to exercise restraint and respect their obligations under the cease-fire .
Russia , as we have already stated at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its mediation efforts for a settlement , as a co-chair of the Minsk group , ” Peskov said .
The current situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan is highly dangerous and may turn into the regional conflict .
Both sides widely employ military propaganda instigating the confrontation and do not demonstrate signs of the readiness for any comprehensive de-escalation .
Furthermore , a pro-Western foreign policy posture of the current Armenian government during the past years undermined its relations with Russia .
It ’ s unlikely that Moscow will intervene in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat to the existence of the Armenian statehood .
Also , Russia and Turkey , the main backer of Azerbaijan , currently have productive bilateral relations in the economic , military and diplomatic spheres .
Therefore , it ’ s even more unlikely that Moscow would risk its joint projects with Ankara to save face of its theoretical allies in Armenia .
In own turn , Azerbaijan enjoys a strong support from the Erdogan government that in the even of a full-scale military confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan will apparently support Baku by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • At Least 4 Azerbaijani Soldiers Killed In Resumed Border Clashes With Armenian Forces ( Video )

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The conflict between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the border area of Tovuz on the border between two countries has been developing since July 12. Both sides have been actively employing artillery and heavy weapons and accuse each other of provoking the conflict.
The Azerbaijani military reported that Major General Gashimov Polad and Colonel Ilgar Mirzaev were killed in clashes with Armenian forces on July 14 morning. Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said that a total of 7 personnel have been killed in the fighting. Kerim Veliyev, deputy defense minister, claimed that nearly 100 Armenian soldiers have been killed over that period.
The Armenian side denies any casualties caliming that it was successfully repelling the ‘Azerbaijani agression’. At the same time, Baku insists that Armenian forces, supposedly responsible for the escalation, also suffered casualties.
Armenian strikes on positions of Azerbaijani forces:
Azerbaijani strikes on Armenian forces:
The Turkish Defense Ministry already declared its full support to Azerbaijan, condemned the ‘Armenian agression’ and vowed to assist Baku in the ongoing military standoff. It’s expected that Turkey and Azerbaijan will expand its military cooperation and further due to the developing conflict. Ankara will also increase the supplies of military equipment and weapons to Baku.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization, a security bloc that includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, condemned the clashes and called on the sides to abide the ceasefire regime. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is deeply concerned by the clashes.
“We are deeply concerned about the shootings on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. We call on both sides to exercise restraint and respect their obligations under the cease-fire. Russia, as we have already stated at various levels, is ready to provide its mediation efforts for a settlement, as a co-chair of the Minsk group,” Peskov said.
The current situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan is highly dangerous and may turn into the regional conflict. Both sides widely employ military propaganda instigating the confrontation and do not demonstrate signs of the readiness for any comprehensive de-escalation. Furthermore, a pro-Western foreign policy posture of the current Armenian government during the past years undermined its relations with Russia. It’s unlikely that Moscow will intervene in the conflict if there is no direct threat to the existence of the Armenian statehood. Also, Russia and Turkey, the main backer of Azerbaijan, currently have productive bilateral relations in the economic, military and diplomatic spheres. Therefore, it’s even more unlikely that Moscow would risk its joint projects with Ankara to save face of its theoretical allies in Armenia. In own turn, Azerbaijan enjoys a strong support from the Erdogan government that in the even of a full-scale military confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan will apparently support Baku by military means.
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southfront--2020-07-14--Syrian Arab Army Arrests Militants Spying On Russian Military Installations

On July 14th , Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) personnel detained 3 militants from Maghawir al-Thawra ( Revolutionary Commando Army ) , who were allegedly tasked with collecting data on Russian military facilities .
According to the militants ’ statements , they collected data on Syrian and Iranian military installations , in addition to Russian ones .
The extremists were taken to Tadmor , located near Syria ’ s Palmyra .
The group went on a mission , but wandered into a minefield .
The explosions killed three people , including the commander and guide .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group consisted of eight people : seven fighters and one guide , who was involved in drug trafficking and transported personnel .
We went by motorbikes to fulfil missions and were trapped in a mine field .
As a result , the group ’ s commander , a guide and another person were blown up by a mine .
We lost our way and did not know where to go , because the guide died , and we started looking for the way out and continued moving .
Then we were taken hostage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Jasem al-Ali , one of the detained reportedly said .
The group was tasked with collecting data on military facilities al-Ali admitted : The militants were equipped with several AK-47 assault rifles , grenades , a large amount of ammunition , as well as money and drugs .
They also received large sums of money “ from their sponsors.
” Their training reportedly took place with American M-16 rifles , but they were still given AK-47s .
The militant also said that they had been trained under the supervision of instructors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were taught to handle all types of weapons by American instructors .
All weapons were American-made .
I saw American instructors , they come to training , but the classes themselves are conducted by the Syrians .
From afar , Americans observe , verify and evaluate the progress of preparation , ” said Abdullah al-Mishuat , another detained militant .
al-Mishuat said that the curators gave the group “ thousands of dollars ” for the assignment .
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On July 14th, Syrian Arab Army (SAA) personnel detained 3 militants from Maghawir al-Thawra (Revolutionary Commando Army), who were allegedly tasked with collecting data on Russian military facilities.
According to the militants’ statements, they collected data on Syrian and Iranian military installations, in addition to Russian ones.
The extremists were taken to Tadmor, located near Syria’s Palmyra.
The group went on a mission, but wandered into a minefield. The explosions killed three people, including the commander and guide.
“We are part of Maghawir al-Thawra organization. Our group consisted of eight people: seven fighters and one guide, who was involved in drug trafficking and transported personnel. We went by motorbikes to fulfil missions and were trapped in a mine field. As a result, the group’s commander, a guide and another person were blown up by a mine. We lost our way and did not know where to go, because the guide died, and we started looking for the way out and continued moving. Then we were taken hostage and the Syrian forces brought us here,” Jasem al-Ali, one of the detained reportedly said.
The group was tasked with collecting data on military facilities al-Ali admitted:
“We were sent for fulfilling a mission in Raqqa province, in Al-Mansurah. The goal was to collect information. <…> We had to obtain data on Russian, Iranian and Syrian facilities,” the militant said, also adding that the mission began at Al-Tanf.
The militants were equipped with several AK-47 assault rifles, grenades, a large amount of ammunition, as well as money and drugs. They also received large sums of money “from their sponsors.”
Their training reportedly took place with American M-16 rifles, but they were still given AK-47s.
The militant also said that they had been trained under the supervision of instructors from the United States.
“We were taught to handle all types of weapons by American instructors. All weapons were American-made. I saw American instructors, they come to training, but the classes themselves are conducted by the Syrians. From afar, Americans observe, verify and evaluate the progress of preparation,” said Abdullah al-Mishuat, another detained militant.
al-Mishuat said that the curators gave the group “thousands of dollars” for the assignment.
“All the money was in the command of the Yazan group. He was blown up by a mine, and we lost everything,” the gunman said.
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southfront--2020-07-14--Military Situation In Yemen On July 14, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen : • Saudi-led coalition warplanes @ @ @ @ @ and Shaaf districts ; • The Liaison and Coordination Officers ’ Operations Room ( loyal @ @ @ @ @ 86 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah over the past 24 hours .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen:
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted airstrikes on the Khab and Shaaf districts;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted airstrikes on the Abs area;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 10 airstrikes on the Majzar area;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 10 airstrikes on the Abdiyah area;
The Liaison and Coordination Officers’ Operations Room (loyal to Ansar Allah) reported 86 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah over the past 24 hours.
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southfront--2020-07-14--Russian Pipe-Laying Vessel Moves In To Complete Nord Stream 2

Russia is to potentially finish Nord Stream 2 soon , according to vessel-tracking data from Refinitiv Eikon , cited by Reuters .
This relates to the Fortuna pipe-laying vessel , not the Akademik Cherskiy one , which for a while was primed as the one to complete the construction .
According to the vessel-tracking data , the Fortuna pipe layer left Mukran , where pipes for the Nord Stream 2 are stored on July 14th and is now moving in Danish territorial waters .
Fortuna is a pipe-lay crane vessel that was built in 2010 and is sailing under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the project refused to provide any comment .
Back in mid-June 2020 , the Nord Stream 2 project applied for an amendment to its Danish construction permit that would allow pipe-laying work using a broader variety of vessels .
The request relates to the potential deployment of pipe-laying vessels that use anchors for positioning .
The initial permit permit — issued by the Danish Energy Agency ( DEA ) in October 2019 — allows only for the use of vessels with dynamic positioning systems , meaning that they would not be required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to reduce the risk of setting off unexploded ordnance .
The DEA had said this was a “ key ” condition of the permit .
On July 13th , The Danish Energy Agency said it would allow the Gazprom-led project to use pipe-laying vessels with anchors instead of the more advanced vessels using self-positioning technology , which are affected by U.S. sanctions .
Initially , Swiss-Dutch company Allseas was laying the pipeline by using two vessels : Pioneering Spirit and Solitaire .
It , however , halted work to avoid U.S. sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an attempt to impede the construction being finalized .
U.S. lawmakers have been seeking more sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 project , which the United States sees as further undermining Europe ’ s energy security by giving Russian gas giant Gazprom another pipeline to ship its natural gas to European markets .
The U.S. sanctions on the project have divided Europe , with Germany criticizing the U.S. interference in Europe ’ s energy policies and projects .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Nord Stream 2 Requests Permission To Use Different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • US Congress Prepares Extra Sanctions In Effort To Kill Off Nord Stream 2

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Russia is to potentially finish Nord Stream 2 soon, according to vessel-tracking data from Refinitiv Eikon, cited by Reuters.
This relates to the Fortuna pipe-laying vessel, not the Akademik Cherskiy one, which for a while was primed as the one to complete the construction.
According to the vessel-tracking data, the Fortuna pipe layer left Mukran, where pipes for the Nord Stream 2 are stored on July 14th and is now moving in Danish territorial waters.
Fortuna is a pipe-lay crane vessel that was built in 2010 and is sailing under the Russian flag.
Gazprom, which leads the project refused to provide any comment.
Back in mid-June 2020, the Nord Stream 2 project applied for an amendment to its Danish construction permit that would allow pipe-laying work using a broader variety of vessels.
The request relates to the potential deployment of pipe-laying vessels that use anchors for positioning.
The initial permit permit — issued by the Danish Energy Agency (DEA) in October 2019 — allows only for the use of vessels with dynamic positioning systems, meaning that they would not be required to drop anchor to carry out pipe-laying work, to reduce the risk of setting off unexploded ordnance. The DEA had said this was a “key” condition of the permit.
On July 13th, The Danish Energy Agency said it would allow the Gazprom-led project to use pipe-laying vessels with anchors instead of the more advanced vessels using self-positioning technology, which are affected by U.S. sanctions.
Initially, Swiss-Dutch company Allseas was laying the pipeline by using two vessels: Pioneering Spirit and Solitaire. It, however, halted work to avoid U.S. sanctions after they were announced in December 2019 in an attempt to impede the construction being finalized.
U.S. lawmakers have been seeking more sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 project, which the United States sees as further undermining Europe’s energy security by giving Russian gas giant Gazprom another pipeline to ship its natural gas to European markets.
The U.S. sanctions on the project have divided Europe, with Germany criticizing the U.S. interference in Europe’s energy policies and projects.
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southfront--2020-07-15--Intense Syrian Artillery Strikes Targeted Militant Positions In Southern Idlib (Video)

The Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) is carrying out intense artillery strikes on militants ’ positions in the southern countryside of Idlib .
Thus far , the strikes have reportedly targeted the towns of Kansafra , al-Bara , Fatterah , Sufuhon and Fleifel .
The army is using heavy howitzers and rocket launchers .
No losses have yet been reported as a result of the strikes .
The SAA intensified its artillery strikes on southern Idlib following the July 14 suicide bombing .
The attack targeted a joint Russian-Turkish patrol on the M4 highway .
At least three Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the patrol was not the only provocation that taook place in Greater Idlib over the past 24 hours .
The militants also shelled a settlement in northern Lattakia .
Russia and Turkey reached an agreement to stabilize Greater Idlib on March 5 .
However , the militants there are not respecting the agreement .
Some al-Qaeda-affiliated groups are even trying to sabotage it .
If the militants continue their hostile behavior , the agreement may collapse .
This would lead to a new military confrontation in Greater Idlib .
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The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is carrying out intense artillery strikes on militants’ positions in the southern countryside of Idlib.
Thus far, the strikes have reportedly targeted the towns of Kansafra, al-Bara, Fatterah, Sufuhon and Fleifel. The army is using heavy howitzers and rocket launchers. No losses have yet been reported as a result of the strikes.
The SAA intensified its artillery strikes on southern Idlib following the July 14 suicide bombing. The attack targeted a joint Russian-Turkish patrol on the M4 highway. At least three Russian service members were injured.
The attack on the patrol was not the only provocation that taook place in Greater Idlib over the past 24 hours. The militants also shelled a settlement in northern Lattakia.
Russia and Turkey reached an agreement to stabilize Greater Idlib on March 5. However, the militants there are not respecting the agreement. Some al-Qaeda-affiliated groups are even trying to sabotage it.
If the militants continue their hostile behavior, the agreement may collapse. This would lead to a new military confrontation in Greater Idlib.
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southfront--2020-07-15--Military Situation In Syria On July 15, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria : • A Turkish military @ @ @ @ @ vehicles and trucks loaded with concrete blocks and logistical equipment entered the southern countryside of @ @ @ @ @ 3 detainees from the town of Gharanij in the eastern countryside Deir Ezzor after a @ @ @ @ @ years • Syrian Army artillery and Russian warplanes targeted the villages of Kanasfara , Safuhin @ @ @ @ @ explosions were heard in the neighborhoods of the city of Raqqa , one in the @ @ @ @ @ of the military court and another in the Nour street area .
No casualties were @ @ @ @ @ of Al-Naima town blocked the main roads with burning tires and demand the Syrian government @ @ @ @ @ MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Tensions Growing Between SDF And Arab Tribes On Eastern @ @ @

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria:
A Turkish military convoy of bulldozers, armored vehicles and trucks loaded with concrete blocks and logistical equipment entered the southern countryside of Idlib;
SDF released 3 detainees from the town of Gharanij in the eastern countryside Deir Ezzor after a detention that lasted near 2 years
Syrian Army artillery and Russian warplanes targeted the villages of Kanasfara, Safuhin and Barah;
3 explosions were heard in the neighborhoods of the city of Raqqa, one in the Ferdous district near the headquarters of the military court and another in the Nour street area. No casualties were reported;
The people of Al-Naima town blocked the main roads with burning tires and demand the Syrian government to release the detainees.
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southfront--2020-07-15--Russian Service Members Received Minor Injuries In M4 Bombing (Video)

On July 15 , Russian sources shared a video of the Russian service members who had been injured in the recent suicide bombing that had targeted a joint Russian-Turkish patrol on the M4 highway in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib .
The three service members received minor injuries .
One of them suffered minor burns to his hands , while the other two had hands and head fractions .
A suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device ( SVBIED ) targeted the Russian-Turkish patrol near the eastern entrance of the town of Arihah on July 14 .
A terrorist group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed responsibility for the attack .
However , its involvement has yet to be verified .
The injured service members were aboard a BTR-82 armored personnel carrier that shielded them from the SVBIED explosion .
The soldiers , who are serving in the ranks of the Russian Military Police , were quickly evacuated by the Turkish military .
The Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria claimed that several Turkish soldiers were also injured in the explosion .
Turkey has not yet provided details on this issue .
In response to the attack , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pinpoint airstrikes on Greater Idlib .
The exact nature of the targets remains unclear .
The terrorist attacks will likely delay the implementation of the Russian-Turkish agreement reached on March 5 .
However , both sides remain apparently determined to meet their obligations under the agreement , including the reopening of the M4 motorway .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • The Saker : “ There Is a Dark and Dangerous Forest Behind These Burning Trees… ”

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On July 15, Russian sources shared a video of the Russian service members who had been injured in the recent suicide bombing that had targeted a joint Russian-Turkish patrol on the M4 highway in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib.
The three service members received minor injuries. One of them suffered minor burns to his hands, while the other two had hands and head fractions.
Video shows 3 wounded #Russian soldiers being evacuated following the recent terrorist IED attack that hit the joint patrol in #Idlib pic.twitter.com/VWwVY2a2cE — Majd Fahd ?? (@Syria_Protector) July 15, 2020
A suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) targeted the Russian-Turkish patrol near the eastern entrance of the town of Arihah on July 14. A terrorist group called “the Khattab al-Shishani Brigades” claimed responsibility for the attack. However, its involvement has yet to be verified.
The injured service members were aboard a BTR-82 armored personnel carrier that shielded them from the SVBIED explosion. The soldiers, who are serving in the ranks of the Russian Military Police, were quickly evacuated by the Turkish military.
The Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria claimed that several Turkish soldiers were also injured in the explosion. Turkey has not yet provided details on this issue.
In response to the attack, the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a series of pinpoint airstrikes on Greater Idlib. The exact nature of the targets remains unclear.
The terrorist attacks will likely delay the implementation of the Russian-Turkish agreement reached on March 5. However, both sides remain apparently determined to meet their obligations under the agreement, including the reopening of the M4 motorway.
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