NATO Secretary General at the European Political Community, 07 NOV 2024

North Korean troops are fighting in Kursk Oblast against the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Gen. Ben Hodges on Ukraine's Kursk incursion in Russia - YouTube - Kyiv Independent

with Natalia Yermak,reporter of the Kyiv Independent,and LTGEN Ben Hodges,U.S. Army ret.,former commander U.S. Army Europe*There are currently two Ukrainian counteroffensives underway,as LTGEN Hodges describes it,in Kursk and Belgorod Oblasts.He questions the sustainability of the West's support for Ukraine and does not believe it is adequate for a Ukrainian victory at this time.He believes that Ukraine must do more to recruit and train Ukrainian men and women into their military.

Russia alleges 'large scale' Ukrainian incursion in Kursk region | DW News - YouTube

with Frank Ledwidge,military expert and Senior Lecturer at Portsmouth University

Russia Preparing for Possible Quick Strike on Ukraine

International concern is mounting about Russia's intentions for its persistent massing of troops and military equipment along the Ukrainian borders while criticising Ukrainian behaviour.According to Ukrainian military intelligence,there are now about 100,000 Russian troops assembled along Ukrainian territory.The Intelligence Community feels they are configured for a potential multi-pronged attack on Ukraine.A blitzkrieg,which is the German for "lightning war,"could begin with Russian artillery barrages and airstrikes,then be followed up by air assault,amphibious and infantry incursions.A blitzkrieg is a battle of annihilation by surprise attack including armoured or motorised infantry formations integrated with close air support.It dislocates and disorients the enemy with its constantly evolving fronts.* On 22 November 2021,Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley,US Army,spoke by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart,Lieutenant General Valery Zaluzhny.CNN reported that the US may send military advisors to Ukraine,along with lethal aid such as Javelin anti-tank and anti-armour missiles;mortars;and Raytheon Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.It is even possible that the US will send Ukraine Mi-17 Russian-built helicopters that the Pentagon had originally purchased for the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces.* Russia has robustly denied it is planning an invasion of Ukraine.Still,the US is briefing NATO Allies and Partners about Russia's force posture,which is sometimes shifting by night to evade detection,with much alarm and specificity,Ukrainian sources say.Indeed,the Ukrainian Defence Ministry notes that Russia is increasing the combat readiness of Russian-backed occupation forces in the tempoarily occupied territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Eastern Ukraine.And Russia has been running large-scale command and staff exercises,including calling in reserves.The Russian Spetznaz special forces,GRU military intelligence and SVR foreign intelligence operatives have been activated along Ukraine's borders,US officials observed. An attack could come in late January or early February,Ukrainian military intelligence assesses.The US would likely not choose to defend Ukraine from Russia in a direct way,since Ukraine is not a NATO Ally.It is not believed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could prevail;but they could do some damage to the invaders.* Raytheon Technologies Corp (RTX)

Networked Warfare: Exercise Sea Breeze 2020

Bi-lateral US-Ukraine Naval Exercise Sea Breeze 2020 got underway in the Black Sea on 20 July and runs until 26 July.NATO'S Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is taking part with it's three frigates from Romania,Spain and Turkey.On 20 July, tactical manoeuvring drills were held.*
Participating in SB20 are 27 ships,19 aircraft and some 2,000 personnel from eight countries: Bulgaria, Georgia,Norway, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and the US.Multiple warfighting skillsets will be covered in the challenging scenarios:
Maritime Interdiction operations;air defence; anti-submarine warfare; damage control; and search and rescue.*
According to CDR Craig Trent,CO of guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78):
These exercises will allow us to learn and grow from our partner nations, increasing our interoperability and overall effectiveness as a fighting force.*
Besides the Porter,a P-8A Poseidon Maritime Surveillance Aircraft from Patrol Squadron (VP) 47 will participate, for a total of about 400 US Sailors.*
SB20 is the twentieth iteration of the drills, which aim to increase capability and strengthen regional security.It is the USS Porter's third mission in the Black Sea this year.The Porter is forward-deployed to Rota,Spain along with three other US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to support US national security interests in Europe and Africa.*
After the Exercise,SNMG 2 will conduct a patrol toward the Mediterranean Sea, enhancing regional stability.Ukraine is providing military and civilian infrastructure of the Black Sea coast in support of the event;while the US is helping financially, technologically and by providing hardware.*
The Black Sea Region is seen as a critical area of interest by Russia, which illegally occupies Ukraine's Crimea and parts of Georgia in the region.Hence Alliance networked attack operations and long-range strike operations are reportedly within the unspoken substance of the drills.*
Sea Breeze 2020 is being overseen by RADM Oleksii Neizhpapa, Commander of Naval Forces,Armed Forces of Ukraine; and VADM Gene Black, Commander,U.S. 6th Fleet.*

101st Airborne Division:Ukrainian Brigade Completes Rotation at CCT-Yavoriv

On 13 July 2019,the Armed Forces of Ukraine's 95th Air Assault Brigade completed its training rotation at Combat Training Center-Yavoriv,Ukraine,the US Army's 101st Airborne Division reported.A ceremony was held to mark the occasion by Task Force Carentan,2nd Brigade Combat Team,101st Airborne Division (Air Assault),which trained the Ukrainian troops.
LTC Michael Starz,CTC mentorship branch commander,spoke at the ceremony:
We offered NATO techniques to enhance combat effectiveness of your forces.Commanders at lower levels are empowered with clear intent of higher commanders.Non-commissioned officers are experts and decisive to all levels of operations,from squad to brigade.This is not theory.This is combat tested and proven.It works and we saw you embrace this as a unit dedicated to learning and improvement.*
Certificates of achievement were presented to the 95th AASLT BDE by TF Carentan Senior Leaders for their dedication to their Soldiers and resilience during their training rotation at CTC-Yavoriv.
In conclusion,LTC Starz expressed the emotion of the day:
We bid you farewell with confidence that we will find each other again in each other's homes,at a future exercise,or in an operation.See you on the high ground.*