Major Ukraine War Update. March 13th.

Sweden Is Now Patrolling The Skies Near Russia. Aircraft Factory Hit

Several key things happened both in Ukraine and Europe. Sweden started air reconnaissance missions around their border with Russia. This was the first mission which they performed that close to Russia, after being neutral for roughly 200 years.

Sweden was worried for its safety right after the war in Ukraine has begun, which has led them to joining the alliance. Today, Sweden is safer than it ever was. What Russia might have seen as a provocative move was actually a drill to ensure the safety of its border.

According to their military, the main motive was dedicated to collecting intelligence. They collected information such as where, and how far Russian battalions are located, and to see if there were any updates that should leave Sweden worried. Swedish military followed and tracked the activates of Russian troops, which were deployed not far from its border.

Sweden used its own aircraft for collecting the intelligence. A Swedish plane by the name of: “S102B Korpen GIV-SP” was used. The mission was successful. While speaking of Russia. Today, they have extremely small amount of intelligence gathering planes. As Russia lost few of them while flying them at the Black Sea, collecting intel from the battlefield in Ukraine.

Nima Khorrami, being an analyst, has said the following statement, concerning Sweden being in the alliance:

extends NATO’s missile range, putting strategic locations in Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg within reach.

Speaking of such Russian planes, which are called: “A-50s”. After Ukrainian military damaged two of these planes, making them operational. They were being repaired. Russian air force only has 6 of such planes in service. Although, these estimates are from years back. The true number of these planes might be smaller.

Yesterday(as of writing this), Ukrainian military suspected that these planes were being repaired at Russian air craft plant located in Southern Russia, called Taganrog. Which so happens to be easily reachable by Ukrainian drones and long range missiles. Ukrainian military did not want Russian military to get these planes operational, as it has only few to spare. Ukraine stuck the plant, leaving it damaged.

The footage collected via the satellites showed the plant damaged, and the moment of the impact of the explosions. Ukraine had enough evidence to speculate that one of these planes was being repaired in the plant.

Oleksiy Goncharenko, Ukrainian individual in authority, has told that the plant was hardly damaged. When referring to the plane, he explained that the plane had two outcomes. First being, being fully destroyed. Second, being severely damaged, with the whole plant.

Today, Russia does not make these planes anymore, and are scarce in its arsenal. Russian military has changed the tactics the way they use planes. As it has lost a lot of fighter jets past weeks. The today’s estimated losses of Russian forces, according to Ukrainian military are: 910 troops, 8 tanks, 27 IFV.

Taganrog, is a Russian city where the incident happened, and is located literally at the border next to Ukraine. The city’s plant is important to Russia, yet its geographical location is bad, as Ukrainian drones and missiles are capable of reaching the plant, at ease.

The A-50 was seen in the plant, a whole week before Ukraine arranged the attack. Thanks to the satellite information Ukraine has. Russia has reportedly shot down 41 drones that were headed to the plant. Clearly, this was not a one man operation, this includes a lot of Ukrainian drone operators.

Russian air force is extremely limited, and can’t find fast replacements. Most of the weapons in Russian arsenal are problematic, and some aren’t even operational. Nonetheless, the data bases still use their numbers when counting the exact quantity of Russian tanks, for instance.

This is because Russian military was storing these weapons in weapon silos for many years. Sweden manufactures their surveillance planes, while Russia does not, as it is facing other problems. Such as dedicating most of the funds for sustaining the war in Ukraine.

British intelligence has also announced that Russia has suspended some of its A-50s, as the risks involved in operating these planes are high, when used near Ukraine. Russia is definitely losing the battle of controlling the skies.

Speaking of United States. Donald Trump, has said in the meeting in Florida, that he won’t give Ukraine a single penny. This is because Donald is thought to stop and combat America’s national debt, which is at a level where some individuals are thinking it can’t be payed off, without the nation being hurt, as a result.

For those who support Ukraine, hearing such statement is hard to cope with. Nonetheless, there are two sides of this issue, one being listed above the paragraph.

Belarus, yesterday, begun inspecting and preparing its military for total combat “readiness”. Its military will be conducting drills and military exercises, involving “live” ammunition. Some of the nation’s roads will be blocked, as a result of the exercise. Usage of anti-aircraft missiles will be part of the exercise.

The previous exercise which Belarus did, led to Poland’s airspace violation, and leaving Polish and Lithuanian borders inspected, and its border guards being on full alert. Strangely enough, after Belarusian helicopter entered Poland illegally, Poland decided to respond the same way. Belarus soon reported that Polish helicopter has breached the border.

Clearly, as long as Belarus is doing this, it is considered a norm. But the moment Poland does the exact same thing to Belarus, it is considered an act of major provocation and war? Lukashenko perhaps was about to grab his weapon, with which he was seen walking in the airport, and be battle ready. Sarcasm.

United Nations’ human right expert, Mariana Katzarova, as of recently, while referring to Navalny’s death has told that this was the fault of Russian government, by saying:

So the Russian government is responsible, one way or another, for his death

Russian government could have sent Navanly to hundred different less extreme prisons. Yet, they chose to send him to the most extreme prison, located in the Arctic itself. There are two speculations of what happened to him. Either he died due to direct torture, or simply was deliberately killed.

Ever since the death of Alexei Navalny, there is no day passing without asking myself, who is the next Navalny? — Mariana, added.

Speaking of Ukraine’s ammunition situation. Britain reached out to Germany, in hopes that Germany would replace British weapon stocks with Taurus missiles, this way Britain would be able to continue sending its “storm shadows” to Ukraine. Britain would help to reequip Ukrainian military.

By which Ukrainian military would successfully conduct its future operations. The ammunitions is already being rationed in Ukraine, this update, I believe, will make it slightly easier for Ukrainian forces. Nonetheless, this is all that I found informative to share for today.