Oleksandr is one of the best air defense soldiers of the "West" Air Command. He is a lieutenant colonel, commander of the anti-aircraft missile division. From the first day of the russian full-scale aggression, it has demonstrated impressive effectiveness and courage in the battles for the sky. Began to fight on the Buk M1 anti-aircraft missile system.
On the morning of February 25, his combat calculation hit its first target - a russian helicopter that was approaching the Gostomel airport.
- After the defense of the airport, we were tasked to go to the Kyiv region and protect the sky of the capital from enemy aircraft. Already during the march, they made a stop and destroyed a russian plane. They worked in various areas around the capital: from Vasylkovo to Svyatoshyn. Two more helicopters were shot down near Svyatoshyn, Oleksandr says. - Then they took up positions 10 kilometers from the battle line and covered our troops from there.
During the first, most difficult month of the war, during the defense of the Kyiv region, his self-propelled fire installation destroyed twenty enemy targets. These are airplanes, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles of the occupiers.
- One night, two Su-34s were destroyed in just one hour. How do you feel when you shoot down a Su-34 with a full complement of bombs that it is going to drop on our infantry? A feeling of joy and satisfaction. And still peace. I reacted very calmly to everything. And he calmly performed combat work, - recalls Oleksandr. - You should not worry and create a nervous atmosphere around. And you always have to be careful. Underestimating risks is the first step to failure. The most destroyed target during our stay in the Kyiv region was the russian Mi-28 helicopter. How did we win in anti-aircraft battles? Thanks to endurance, cunning and cold calculation. They were in an ambush, did not reveal themselves, were involved in the work only when they received information that the target was in the zone of our defeat. After that we had about 30 seconds to detect, capture and destroy her and leave our position as quickly as possible. Because right away enemy planes fired anti-radar missiles at us. Then we also learned that the best medicine for all diseases is adrenaline in your blood from everything that is happening around you. During the first month of the great war, we did everything on adrenaline. At an air temperature of minus 15 degrees, with wet feet, they sat in a cold self-propelled fire installation for days with breaks for rest in a frozen dugout. We could not start a fire and unmask ourselves. And no one got sick. Didn't even cough.
Subsequently, Oleksandr's unit was relocated to the south of the country in the Odesa region. Here, anti-aircraft fighters destroyed ten cruise missiles and attack UAVs of the russians. After completing the mission in the south, his division went abroad. In a training center in Germany, the rocket engineers quickly mastered a new anti-aircraft missile complex and returned to the Motherland.
- We have already destroyed 45 air targets at this complex. This is in half a year. So far..., says Oleksandr. – The most effective anti-aircraft battle – seven destroyed cruise missiles for one enemy missile-aircraft strike. We had two such cases. We spend one rocket on one target. That is, the efficiency is one hundred percent. We even managed to destroy six enemy missiles with five of ours. The russian missile exploded after being hit by our missile and destroyed another cruise missile with its fragments.
In total, Alexander has 75 destroyed enemy targets. For his combat work, he was awarded the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky third, second and first degrees, the Order "For Courage" of the third degree and the medal "For the Defense of Ukraine".
📸✍🏻 Air Command "West"
Ladies, I think he might be single.
Stanislav Khvostov was born in Kharkiv. After the 9th grade, he entered the Kharkiv Radio Technical College majoring in "Computer programming", but a year later he decided to study at the Professional Education Center No. 1, where he chose the field of "Mechanical Engineering".
He planned to enter the Military Institute of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. In peaceful life, he worked as a freight forwarder. Played guitar and piano. Loved kickboxing.
In 2020, the boy joined the 92nd separate mechanized brigade named after the head of the army Ivan Sirk. He served in the city of Okhtyrka, Sumy region. He took part in the war in the east - in Popasnaya, Luhansk region.
On March 27, 2022, soldier Stanislav Khvostov, nicknamed Harry, died during the defense of the city of Kharkiv. The soldier received a mine-explosive injury incompatible with life.
Proposal to exclude Hungary temporarily from the Schengen area due to "Express-visas for russians".
The European Parliament was proposed to suspend Hungary's participation in the Schengen area after Budapest decided to relax visa requirements for citizens of Russia and Belarus. A letter with such a demand was signed by a group of 70 MEPs, writes Politico.
"We call on the European Commission to take urgent measures to investigate Hungary's decision, as it could represent a loophole and potentially jeopardize the overall functioning of the Schengen area and its role as a safe space for citizens," the document says.
If the Hungarian government refuses to change its visa policy, then the European Commission and all EU countries "should review the Hungarian presence in the Schengen area by introducing new measures to protect European citizens, including new controls at Hungarian borders."
In early July, Hungary included Russians and Belarusians in the "national card" program, which allows you to get a job in any industry, move your family and obtain a permanent residence permit in the country in three years. As Deutsche Welle noted, this happened after a meeting between Orban and Putin in Moscow.
Previously, other deputies like the Finnish MEPs from across the political spectrum interviewed by Yle called for stricter sanctions against Hungary, which is seen as a loose cannon. Maria Ohisalo (Green) and Sebastian Tynkkynen (Finns) said that Hungary's right to vote in the European Council should be suspended.
"Hungary has shown that it is not committed to [our] common values and rules of the game. This should be a good enough incentive for the member states to introduce Article 7 of the EU Treaty, which enables the removal of Hungary's right to vote in the Council."
According to Article 7, EU membership and participation in its activities depend on respect for fundamental values and that serious and persistent violations of them may be subject to sanctions.
It says that membership rights, such as voting rights in the European Council, may be suspended "if a country seriously and persistently breaches the principles on which the EU is founded…[including] respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights.
"Hungary's current leadership is clearly not committed to the common values and principles of the Union. Orbán's solo moves endanger the credibility of the Union's foreign policy and the results of the Union's activities in the world," said MEP and ex-finance minister Eero Heinäluoma (SDP) said and called to react forcefully to Hungary's undemocratic development and its self-serving actions within the EU.
"These reactions should include denying Hungary the right to vote, halting its EU grants and reviewing Hungary's status as part of the Schengen zone."
@EU_Report
@freerussia_report
❗️At least 10 unmanned aerial vehicles were launched at Moscow overnight
Mayor Sergei Sobyanin says this is one of the largest attacks on the Russian capital. He claims that all the drones were shot down on their approach to the city.
The Russian Ministry of Defense says that 45 drones were shot down over Russia overnight: 11 over the territory of Moscow Oblast, 23 over Bryansk Oblast, six over Belgorod Oblast, three over Kaluga Oblast, and two over Kursk Oblast.
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Meanwhile, in Sudzha, Kursk Oblast, our military discovered the personal files of Russian draft evaders who are on the wanted list. They decided to burn these documents.
Journalist Yuriy Butusov reported from the scene, revealing that these files were stored at the Sudzha Military Commissariat, the very place where soldiers were being recruited and sent to the front lines. @ukrainejournal
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Directs National Security Council to Develop Strategy for Increased Support to Ukraine, — The Times
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has instructed the National Security Council to develop a comprehensive strategy for boosting support to Ukraine, The Times reports.
An anonymous military source suggested that the prime minister’s approach would encompass a broad range of measures, including military, industrial, economic, and diplomatic assistance.
The publication also noted that a special working group, including the Minister of Defence and the Foreign Secretary, has been established to coordinate Britain’s efforts to support Ukraine.
@ukrainejournal
Senior sergeant Ivan Gerasymchuk, call sign Hera, died on June 10, 2023 during the storming of the village of Blagodatne, Bakhmut district, Donetsk region.
The fighter led the group out without casualties, and he himself died of internal bleeding as a result of a mine-explosive injury he received in battle.
The man joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on November 11, 2022. Became a serviceman of the 68th separate hunting brigade named after Oleksa Dovbush. He was the commander of the department. Within a week, he and his comrades were on the front line, where he courageously performed all combat tasks.
"He was honest and very responsible. When he received the summons, he immediately went to the Military Commissariat without hiding. The best commander of his department, who united the boys among themselves, provided them with everything and shared the last.
Contributed to the always active recreation of the boys: fishing and gardening. Even after 7 months, it is difficult for the boys to get used to the fact that Hera is far away... I thank everyone who saved him on the night of 06/10/2023 and was able to take his body out of the shelling."
- said the wife of the deceased Yuliya.
🇺🇦 It has been confirmed that Ukraine has destroyed the third and final bridge across the Seim River, which connected the Moscow junta 🐷 troops with the Glushkovsky district of Kursk 👆🏻
This means that the zone of the former ruZZian federaZtion, which is now being isolated and comes under the control of Ukraine, and they will no longer be able to bomb Ukrainian territory from there.
The Putinazis can no longer fully import or export supplies or equipment to an area of about 640 km2, which roughly corresponds to the territory that the occupiers captured in Ukraine over the past year.
@ukrainejournal
Kavkaz oil depot of Rosrezerv in the Rostov region , the fire is still being extinguished. Footage is being circulated online, according to which another fuel tank exploded at the scene.
Given the complexity of the fire, a state of emergency has been declared in the Proletarsky District . According to some reports, several fire trains are involved in extinguishing the fire, and water has been supplied to ensure the uninterrupted work of the firefighters.
However, there were casualties: according to the latest information, 18 employees of the Russian Emergencies Ministry were injured , 14 of them received outpatient care, the rest were taken to a local hospital due to burns.
@ukrainejournal
I am a Democrat who supports Ukraine in their battle against The Russian fascist invaders.
I am a 74 year old Covid hermit who
lives on 10 acres in a sparsely populated area of the Ozarks. I heat with wood that is leftover by the lumber industry. When cutting oak for lumber only the trunk is used.
The largest town is population 2993. The county is 13k people scattered over 713 square miles.