About 200 flights were canceled or delayed at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports, according to the online scoreboard of the airports.
Sheremetyevo, in particular, canceled flights on February 24 to Anapa, Rostov-on-Don, Simferopol, Makhachkala, Sochi, Voronezh, Hurghada, Volgograd, Belgorod, Stavropol, Krasnodar, Astrakhan, Prague, Ulyanovsk. The reasons for the cancellation are not disclosed.
Earlier, the Federal Air Transport Agency issued a message about the suspension of 11 airports in the south and west of the country until March 2. The list includes Rostov (Platov), Krasnodar (Pashkovsky), Anapa (Vityazevo), Gelendzhik, Elista, Stavropol, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Voronezh, Simferopol.
This morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during an emergency appeal to the Russians, announced the beginning of a special military operation in the Donbass. He said that Russia’s plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry stressed that nothing threatens the civilian population of Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that the Ukrainian border guards do not offer any resistance to Russian units, RIA Novosti reports.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that Ukraine’s air defense systems were suppressed. The ministry also noted that the military infrastructure of the AFU air bases is out of order.
In addition, the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation denied reports of a Russian plane shot down in eastern Ukraine, which was previously reported by Ukrainian security forces.
In turn, the LPR announced an operation to liberate the temporarily occupied territory. Residents of the frontline areas were urged to go down to bomb shelters if possible.
It was also reported that NATO is convening an emergency meeting due to the situation in Ukraine. Representatives of the alliance countries will hold it in the morning.
Media reports that a Russian plane was shot down on the territory of Ukraine do not correspond to reality. This was reported in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
Earlier, the media reported that Ukrainian security forces allegedly shot down a Russian plane in eastern Ukraine with the help of air defense.
The ministry noted that the military of the Border guard Service of Ukraine does not resist Russian units.
Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in the Donbas in connection with the aggravation of the situation there. The Defense Ministry stressed that Russian troops do not strike Ukrainian cities.
Reports from Ukraine about the destruction of civilian infrastructure are not true, the People’s Militia of the DPR said. TASS writes about this.
They stressed that the fire is conducted only on military facilities.
Earlier it was reported that explosions were heard in several Ukrainian cities, including Kiev, Odessa, Kharkiv and others. The Ukrainian Armed Forces declare missile strikes on Ukrainian military headquarters, airfields and command centers.
Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in the Donbas in connection with the aggravation of the situation. The Defense Ministry stressed that Russian troops do not strike Ukrainian cities, civilians are not in danger.
Cloudy weather with clarifications is forecast in the Russian capital on Thursday, February 24, the official website of the Hydrometeorological Center of the Russian Federation reports.
“Mostly without precipitation. There is ice in places,” the message says.
During the day, the air temperature in the city will be from zero degrees to two degrees celsius. Atmospheric pressure is 754 millimeters of mercury.
The wind is westerly at a speed of five to ten meters per second.
On Friday night, partly cloudy and sometimes icy conditions are forecast in the capital. No precipitation. The wind is westerly at a speed of six to 11 meters per second.
The air temperature will be from minus three to minus five degrees. Atmospheric pressure is 753 millimeters of mercury.
Recall that Tuesday, February 22, was the warmest day in Moscow since the beginning of winter. According to forecasters, the air has warmed up to the highest values in the current winter season – up to 5.6 degrees Celsius.
Ukrainian security forces shelled three settlements on the territory of the DPR in 15 minutes, RIA Novosti reports.
According to the representative office of the republic in the JCCC, the settlements of Kominternovo, Nova Laspa and Petrovskoye were shelled using grenade launchers.
It is also noted that 12 mines with a caliber of 120 millimeters, prohibited by the Minsk Agreements, were fired from the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the Petrovskoye point.
Earlier it was also reported that as a result of artillery shelling by the armed forces of Ukraine, a civilian resident of Donetsk was injured.
The situation on the contact line in Donbass escalated on February 17. Last Friday, the authorities of the LPR and DPR announced the temporary evacuation of civilians to the territory of the Russian Federation in connection with the threat of an invasion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The day before, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the LPR and the DPR. Also, agreements on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance were signed with the heads of the republics.
The US military keeps open channels of communication with Russian colleagues and has no reason to believe that they will close amid the escalation around Ukraine, RIA Novosti reports.
This was announced by Pentagon spokesman John Kirby during a press conference on Wednesday.
“We don’t see any signs that these lines of communication are closed,” he stressed.
The representative of the department also recalled the recent contacts between the defense ministers and the chiefs of the general staffs of the two states.
Recall that last Friday, February 18, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held telephone talks with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin. During the conversation, topical issues of international security of mutual interest were discussed.
Earlier, the Pentagon said that the American side would send the latest F-35 fighter jets and three dozen AH-64 attack helicopters to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank in Europe.
The United States will send up to eight new F-35 fighter jets and three dozen AH-64 attack helicopters to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank amid tensions over Ukraine, RIA Novosti reports.
This was announced by Pentagon spokesman John Kirby during a briefing on Wednesday.
“We are talking about the transfer of up to eight F-35 fighters from Germany to several operational locations along the eastern flank,” he said.
Also, according to Kirby, two dozen AH-64 helicopters will be sent from Germany to the Baltic States, another 12 from Greece to Poland.
In addition, the United States intends to send a battalion tactical group of 800 troops to the Baltic States.
According to a representative of the US military department, this reinforcement is temporary.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko agreed to strengthen military cooperation following the growing activity of NATO on the eastern borders of the alliance.
Military aircraft of Latvia delivered to Ukraine a batch of portable anti-aircraft missile systems Stinger, as well as protective ammunition.
This was announced on Wednesday by the head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Alexey Reznikov on his official Twitter page.
“The birds have arrived” from Latvia. Protective ammunition and other important things. And the most significant gift is “Stingers”, – said the head of the defense department.
On the eve of the Verkhovna Rada adopted a bill to increase defense spending to $ 1.3 billion.
Also on February 23, the Canadian Armed Forces delivered the second batch of lethal military aid to Ukraine.
The newest aircraft-mounted self-propelled anti-tank missile system “Kornet-D1” for the Russian Airborne Forces has begun final firing tests, and the machine is also undergoing laboratory and road tests. АиФ.ги I found out what features this complex has and whether it is capable of resisting the advertised American Javelin.
The Kornet-D1 TRK was developed at the Instrument Engineering Design Bureau named after Academician Shipunov. These weapons are used to defeat armored targets, including those equipped with dynamic protection means. Its modern version is capable of destroying aerial targets. It is assumed that the Kornet-D1 complexes will be delivered to the Russian troops before the middle of 2023.
Not a single tiger
Currently, the complex is being created for two carrier variants: the wheelbase of the Tiger-M armored car and the tracked base of the BMD-4M amphibious assault vehicle. ATGM “Kornet-D1” was developed in the interests of anti-tank units of airborne artillery. “The Cornet-D1” for airborne troops is placed on the chassis of the BMD-4M, which allows it to be dropped. One of the features is the ability to land together with the crew.
By laser beam
According to the developers, the complex was created practically from scratch, from the Cornet already in service, only the missile control system in flight remained in it. The combat vehicle has two automated launchers, each of which can guide its target, even if they are separated by range, front and height.The missile is guided by a laser beam. The fire can be conducted in any weather conditions and at different times of the day. Automatic tracking allows you to aim missiles at a target without the participation of an operator. In addition, the complex provides a remote ATGM launcher, which can be used simultaneously with automated ones.
Powerful and long-range
The firing range of the Cornet-D1 is eight and ten kilometers for anti-tank missiles with tandem cumulative and thermobaric warheads, respectively, whereas in previous versions it is 5.5 km. In the second case, the missile is also capable of hitting low-speed air targets, including UAVs, for this remote detonation is used.
The platoon commander’s car was developed separately. In addition to the launchers, it is equipped with reconnaissance and targeting equipment. To operate the new complex, it will be necessary to retrain gunners, as well as commanders of combat vehicles and units. Now they are actively engaged in this at the Omsk Airborne Training Center. For the sake of “Cornet-D1”, the center doubled the recruitment of cadets and more than doubled the list of military accounting specialties.
Competition with Javelin
The firing range of the Russian ATGM “Cornet-D1” is 4 times greater than the Javelin firing range (this parameter is 2.5 kilometers for it). The armor protection of the Russian design is also better: 1150 millimeters against 800-900 in the American ATGM. The time to start is another advantage of the Cornet-D1. His operator, as soon as he found the target, can immediately shoot. Javelin before launch, it takes about 30 seconds for the homing head to cool down, only then it is ready to accompany the target and point the missile at it.
The main difference is the guidance systems. The flight of the rocket “Cornet-D1” is corrected by a laser beam directed from the launcher to the sensor in the tail of the rocket, until the target is hit. Also, the flight can be adjusted at any time, such a system is less sensitive to interference. The disadvantage is that the gunner must remain at the launch site before being hit.
The Javelin homing head is located in the rocket itself. It determines the target by infrared and thermal radiation, this allows you to implement the principle of “let-forget”, which increases the chances of survival and hiding from a retaliatory strike for the shooter. Javelin homing is sensitive to interference: a powerful smoke screen or a special metallized aerosol will blind a smart American missile.
Javelin can shoot at one target with only one missile, which in some cases can reduce the effectiveness of its use. The Kornet-D1 ATGM is designed to combat the active protection systems that tanks are equipped with, the self-propelled versions of the complexes have a Tandem mode: two missiles are fired with a difference of less than a second, and if the first missile is disoriented by active protection, then the second will penetrate the armor of a naked tank.
It is also important that Javelin is the most expensive anti-tank missile system in history. According to various sources, its cost with a set of six missiles ranges from 600 thousand dollars to almost 1.5 million. The Russian ATGM “Kornet-D1” is cheaper at least 7 times.
