Source: mk.ru
Russian Orion combat drones targeted at least eight pieces of equipment of Kiev forces in the Ukrainian region of Sumy between April 7 and 18, according to Lostarmour.info, a website that documents military losses based on visual evidence only.
The targeted equipment were: four howitzers, including a French-made CAESAR; one main battle tank; one armored fighting vehicle, an American-made Stryker; and two armored personnel carriers, including one American-made M113.
All the equipment were apparently targeted with the X-BPLA, an air-launched version of the Kornet-D anti-tank missile with semi-active laser guidance instead of a laser beam-riding system. The missile has a maximum engagement range of eight kilometers and is armed with a six kilogram high explosive fragmentation warhead.
The Orion was developed by Russia’s Kronstadt Group to conduct both reconnaissance and combat missions. It has an endurance of 24 hours and a combat radius of 250 kilometers. The drone is typically equipped with an optical targeting system. However, it can also carry a radar or an electronic and signal intelligence gathering system.
Aside from the X-BPLA missile, the Orion can be armed with a wide range of precision-guided munitions from the Kab-20 and Kab-50 series.
The Russian military has been using Orion and several other types of combat drones against Kiev forces since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine.
Last month, the Russian military launched a major offensive in Kursk upon orders from President Vladimir Putin, expelling Kiev forces from the region.
Currently, an unknown number of Ukrainian troops are trapped along the region’s border and the Russian military is developing its offensive in Sumy. Russian strikes wiped out most of Ukrainian air defenses in the region, opening the door for combat drones there to operate around the clock.
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april 16, 2025 by craig murray
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a british diplomatic source tells me that “president” al-jolani aka al-sharaa has assured the uk that syria will “normalise relations” with israel, recognise the state of israel and exchange ambassadors
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by the end of 2026. this is part of a deal in exchange for substantial western financial support and the lifting of sanctions on syria.
i asked whether the withdrawal of israeli occupation forces from syria was part of the deal, and surprisingly this was not raised by either side. the uk regards it as a bilateral matter between syria and israel, and al-jolani does not appear to prioritise israeli withdrawal.
sumy makes for perfect stomping grounds for the orion, the russians will have a “field day” with this one…
i was also told that the european union’s external action service (eeas) and directorate general for international partnerships has decided that al-jolani’s syrian cabinet of ministers does meet the promises he gave to the eu pledging conference in brussels on 17 march, through “foreign minister” al-shibani, to form an inclusive government, specifically including alaouite and christian communities and also female ministers.
the most boring site imaginable its like repeats.
the conference pledged 5, 5 billion euros to syria in grants and loans, half of it from the eu itself. the condition of an inclusive government was stressed by the eu in its public statements.
subsequently on 27 march al-jolani announced his inclusive cabinet of 24 ministers. there are 21 male sunnis, including all the key posts – finance, interior, defence, foreign affairs. there is just one woman, who is also the token christian (and is canadian). there are three minority representatives, all in minor ministries – one christian, one alaouite, one druze. there is no shia representation. one of the sunni ministers is a kurd.
i am sure when you look at this image, like the eu you immediately think “oh good, a diverse cabinet
that this is an inclusive government is a farce – only the most flimsy nod to tokenism detracts from the fact that it is a sunni regime with strong theocratic leanings. it was german foreign minister annalena baerbock who made the most public song and dance in brussels about the need for an inclusive government, yet it is she as one of a triumvirate of women – along with eu commission president von der leyen and external affairs head kaja kallas – has insisted that al-jolani’s
a kallas – who has insisted that al-jolani’s cabinet is acceptable.
of course, al-jolani’s pro-israeli credentials trump every other consideration.
this has caused much disquiet among staff at the eu external affairs service and there is enormous discontent at the blatant pro-israeli agenda of von der leyen in particular. the playing down of massacres of minorities in syria, on top of the genocide in gaza, is causing real concern both in the eu and within the uk at the foreign commonwealth and development office, my old department
a final snippet from my source. al-jolani has the support of both mi6 and uk special forces within syria. a key part of their role is to guard against any potential revolt by his own militants who fought their way through from idlib. chechen, uzbek and uighur militants are very happy for now with the spoils of victory, but may not take kindly to the notion of recognising israel.
to be clear, this next did not come from my diplomatic source. but i strongly suspect that the game is for al-jolani and his pro-zionist regime, installed with western backing, to strengthen its paid forces until the time comes for a night of the long knives, where al-jolani’s own most fanatical supporters will be eliminated. that however is merely my reading of his most practical next step. i do not see how he is to reconcile the roles of islamic fundamentalist and us/israeli puppet