(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Ukraine Invasion Day 351: only a 30-plane Typhoon available? [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-02-08 Putin is delaying the announcement of the second wave of mobilization and is inclined to conduct it secretly, as more calls for fighter jets were made during the Zelensky visits. The expansion of the UK’s training programme to include fighter pilots is significant as Zelenskiy has repeatedly called on western countries to supply planes . The UK has so far refused, arguing that the RAF’s F-35 and Typhoon jets take too long for pilots to train on. Sunak also confirmed that UK Challenger 2 tanks would be deployed in Ukraine next month. Pledges of support by Sunak, the UK prime minister, included training Ukrainian pilots on advanced NATO fighter jets “to ensure Ukraine can defend its skies well into the future”. Sunak added: “The first step in being able to provide advanced aircrafts is to have soldiers or aviators that are capable of using them. That is a process. It takes some time, we’ve started that process today.” Zelenskiy also made an emotional appeal to the UK to supply Ukraine with fighter jets on a surprise visit to the UK earlier on Wednesday. “I appeal to you and the world with simple and yet most important words: combat aircrafts – for Ukraine! Wings – for freedom!” he said. Rishi Sunak, previously opposed to handing over UK jets, has ordered a defence ministry review into whether Zelenskiy’s request can be met, saying “nothing was off the table”. Zelenskiy said Macron had undergone a significant change in his stance towards Ukraine after the French president had sought to keep channels open to Russia in the early phase of the conflict. “I think he [Macron] has changed,” Zelenskiy said in an interview published in Le Figaro on Wednesday night. “And he’s changed for real this time. After all, he opened the door to tank deliveries. He also supported Ukraine’s candidacy for the EU. I believe it was a real signal. We had a lot of conversations with France, Germany and other countries. I believe that trust is real today.” Macron said Paris would “continue the efforts” to deliver arms to Kyiv , adding that France was determined to help Ukraine towards “victory, peace and Europe”. “Russia cannot and must not win,” he said, adding that “the future of Europe” was at stake in Ukraine. Scholz said it was clear that Moscow would not win , and assured Ukraine its future was in the EU, saying Ukraine was part of the “European family”. “Putin will not achieve his goals – not on the battlefield and not through a dictated peace.” Volodymyr Zelenskiy has used a visit to Paris to urge Europe to deliver combat aircraft and heavy arms to Ukraine as soon as possible. “The sooner Ukraine gets long-range heavy weaponry, the sooner our pilots get planes, the sooner this Russian aggression will end and we can return to peace in Europe,” the Ukrainian president said as he arrived at the Élysée Palace on Wednesday. Zelenskiy met with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, urging them to be “game changers” by sending modern planes and then “the quicker this Russian aggression will end”. In its new push in the east, Russia is relying on masses of troops to overrun Ukrainian positions. The strategy has come at a cost of As the war intensifies in Eastern Ukraine, doctors struggle to handle an influx of injuries and soldiers fret over the prospect of new waves of conscripts arriving from Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine made a surprise visit to London , during which he met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain and addressed the country’s Parliament. Mr. Zelensky’s decision to make London the first stop of his trip, only his second outside Ukraine since Russia invaded last year, attested to Britain’s role as one of the largest suppliers of weapons to Ukraine, and to the steadfast public support of Mr. Sunak and his predecessors, Liz Truss and Boris Johnson. Still, training pilots to fly high-tech planes is more time-consuming and difficult than training soldiers to drive tanks. Britain’s likeliest jet for export to Ukraine, the Eurofighter Typhoon, is complicated to operate and maintain, military analysts said. It’s also not clear that Britain has enough planes to make a difference; there are only about 30 of the older generation of the Typhoon jets that could be made available, according to Janes, a defense intelligence firm. Even the role of manned aircraft in this war has been constrained, given the widespread use of missiles and drones, and the effectiveness of Ukraine’s and Russia’s air-defense systems. For all their symbolic value, analysts said fighter jets might make less of a difference on the battlefield than tanks. www.nytimes.com/... Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1- Luhansk Oblast ( Russian objective: Capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and continue offensive operations into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and northern Donetsk Oblast) Russian forces continued offensive actions northwest of Svatove on February 8. Kharkiv Oblast Head Oleh Synehubov reported on February 8 that Russian forces are increasing their presence northwest of Svatove in the Kupyansk and Dvorichna areas. [16] A former Luhansk People‘s Republic (LNR) deputy claimed that fierce fighting is ongoing 7km from the Kupyansk area, likely referring to areas near Synkivka, which Russian sources claimed Russian forces captured on February 6. [17] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted a limited ground attack near Novoselivske, about 15km northwest of Svatove. [18] Former Russian militant commander and nationalist milblogger Igor Girkin denied that Russian forces have made any significant territorial gains in Kharkiv Oblast, particularly in the Kupyansk direction, as of February 8. [19] Russian forces also reportedly intensified offensive operations in the Kreminna area. Luhansk Oblast Head Serhiy Haidai stated on February 8 that there has been a ”maximum escalation” in the Kreminna direction and that Russian forces are attempting to break through Ukrainian defenses in this area. [20] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces attacked near Chervonopopivka (5km north of Kreminna). [21] Several Russian milbloggers circulated unconfirmed footage of unspecified Central and Western Military District elements which crossed the Zherebets River running north to south in western Luhansk Oblast, roughly parallel to the Svatove-Kreminna line) and captured Ukrainian positions in an unspecified location around February 6. [22] Russian sources also reported that elements of the 3rd Motor Rifle Division (20th Combined Arms Army, Western Military District) are approaching the Zherebets River and are threatening Ukrainian positions in the area. [23] A prominent Russian milblogger posted footage of the 59th Tank Regiment of the 144th Motor Rifle Division (20th Combined Arms Army, Western Military District) attacking towards Torske (13km west of Kreminna) and claimed the unit pushed Ukrainian forces back to secondary lines of defense. [24] www.understandingwar.org/... Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2—Donetsk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast, the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas) Russian forces conducted ground attacks around Bakhmut and continued making tactical advances on February 8. Geolocated footage posted between February 4 and 8 confirms that Russian forces have made marginal advances north of Bakhmut near Krasna Hora and Zaliznyanske (10km north of Bakhmut), in the Stupky area of northern Bakhmut, and southwest of Bakhmut near Ivanivske. [27] Russian forces are visually confirmed to be within 2.5 km of the E40 Bakhmut-Slovyansk highway. [28] The Ukrainian General Staff also reported that Ukrainian troops repelled Russian attacks on Bakhmut itself; northeast of Bakhmut near Verkhnokamyanske (30km northeast), Fedorivka (15km northeast), Spirne (27km northeast), and Vymika (20km northeast); north of Bakhmut near Paraskoviivka (5km north) and Krasna Hora (4km north); northwest of Bakhmut near Orikhovo-Vasylivka (12km northwest) and Dubovo-Vasylivka (7km northwest); and west of Bakhmut near Ivanivske (5km west) and Chasiv Yar (10km west). [29] The Ukrainian General Staff’s report that Russian forces are attacking towards Orikhovo-Vasylivka and Dubovo-Vasylivka is consistent with geolocated combat footage and indicates that Russian forces seek to encircle Bakhmut by cutting off Ukrainian forces’ access to the E40. Similarly, the report of a Russian attack on Chasiv Yar indicates that Russian forces have likely advanced closer to the T0504 Kostyantynivka-Chasiv Yar-Bakhmut highway southwest of Bakhmut. Russian sources claimed that Wagner Group fighters took control of Krasna Hora and are fighting northeast of Bakhmut. [30] Russian milbloggers also claimed that Wagner Group forces established fire control over a section of the T0504 highway between Stupochky and Ivanivske. [31] www.understandingwar.org/... Supporting Effort—Southern Axis (Russian objective: Maintain frontline positions and secure rear areas against Ukrainian strikes) Russian and Ukrainian forces reportedly continued small scale skirmishes and reconnaissance activity in the Dnipro River delta and on the Kinburn Spit on February 8. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense (UK MoD) reported that Russian forces are using small boats to try to maintain a presence on islands in the Dnipro River delta south of Kherson City and that Ukrainian forces have deployed long-range artillery to strike several Russian outposts on the islands. [43] The UK MoD reported that Russian and Ukrainian forces have likely deployed small groups on the Kinburn Spit in Mykolaiv Oblast, aiming to control the Dnipro Gulf. [44] Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command Spokesperson Natalia Humenyuk previously stated that Russian forces are increasing the number of reconnaissance and sabotage attempts in the area of the Dnipro River delta as part of an information operation to create a perceived threat against Kherson City. [45] Russian forces continue to construct defensive fortifications in Zaporizhia Oblast. Satellite imagery collected between January 26 and February 7 shows Russian forces expanding trench and field fortifications near Tarasivka, Zaporizhia Oblast. [46] Russian forces likely constructed these fortifications to further strengthen Russian positions along the T0401 highway between Polohy and Tokmak. Russian forces are likely establishing long defensive lines along critical grounds lines of communication (GLOCs) in Zaporizhia Oblast in preparation to defend against possible future Ukrainian counteroffensive operations along the Zaporizhia frontline. However, ISW has not observed Russian forces constructing defenses intended to halt a cross-country Ukrainian attack on a large front, and defensive positions remain limited to main roads. www.understandingwar.org/... x ⚡️Russia threatens 'consequences' if UK gives jets to Ukraine. If the U.K. gives Ukraine fighter jets, there will be consequences for Europe and the entire world, the Russian embassy threatened on Feb. 8. — The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 8, 2023 x Every day, every hour, the Challenger 2 tanks and their crews from the #UAarmy are getting prepared to travel to Ukraine. They have a lot of work ahead of them. 📷 @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/j1JaTXxgil — Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 8, 2023 x behind, as the past years took Denmark from a Cold war military to a more defensive military with limited task force capabilities for use in international missions. Later budget cuts has left us far behind concerning just about everything. pic.twitter.com/1ySxTZAysr — Peter G 🇩🇰🇺🇦 #NAFO (@PeterGskrid) February 8, 2023 Ukraine Battle Map @ukraine_map Feb 1 Map of land that Ukraine 🇺🇦 will be able to reach using the GLSDB that they can’t reach now with GMLRS GLSDB 🔴 has a max range of 150km and can hit 31% of Crimea and 82% of all occupied land GMLRS 🟡 has a max range of 92km and can hit 2% of Crimea and 62% of all occupied land Ukraine Battle Map@ukraine_map Feb 3 The map shows the areas of Crimea that Ukraine 🇺🇦 can reach with the (GLSDB) Ground Launched Small Diameter Glide Bomb 🟡 GMLRS max range is 92km 🔴 GLSDB max range is 150km x The Biden administration has approved a $10 billion sale of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to Poland. Poland will be able to buy 486 HIMARS launchers, 45 ATACMS included. Ukraine has 18 HIMARS. pic.twitter.com/2OpEh6o1E0 — News from Ukraine (@uasupport999) February 7, 2023 x In her 102 years, Liubov Yarosh has survived three Russian famines, including the 1932-33 “Holodomor” Now she refuses to accept the latest aggression & makes camouflage suits for Ukrainian snipers. Three of her grandchildren are soldiers defending Ukrainehttps://t.co/NxskY56rEg pic.twitter.com/zGuNEdoTA4 — Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) February 8, 2023 x In Lithuania, reverse vending machines will ask you if you want to take the money or donate it for Ukraine pic.twitter.com/FT2GjJDreY — Saulė Giedriusdòttir 🇱🇹🇺🇦 (@sankuperis) February 5, 2023 x 🇺🇸 The United States moved the USS Nitze, armed with almost a hundred cruise missiles, to the entrance to the Black Sea amid reports of preparations for a new Russian offensive in Ukraine and threats by President Vladimir Putin to respond "not only with armored vehicles" /1 pic.twitter.com/5u416tzED3 — Lew Anno Yieretz Israel (@anno1540) February 7, 2023 x NEW: Almost one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, the movements of Russian oligarchs' superyachts have completely changed. Heat maps show how the yachts have dodged the Med & US west coast, and stuck around Turkey, Dubai & Maldives. Take a look:https://t.co/LC10BTGWt5 — Kate Duffy (@kate__duffy) February 8, 2023 [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/8/2151902/-Ukraine-Invasion-Day-351-only-a-30-plane-Typhoon-available Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/