CNN writes about the problems faced by the pilots of the Ukrainian Mi-8 military helicopters.

A report from the Sikorsky air brigade says that the pilots make three sorties a day.

The main threat to them is Russian man-portable missile systems. They "can turn a helicopter into a fireball in seconds."

"The losses of Ukraine are a state secret. But the pilots and crew of the Sikorsky Brigade lost close friends because of Russian air defense systems," the article says.

To avoid being shot down, Ukrainian helicopter pilots have to fly very low and occasionally hit trees. Often this leads to a forced landing.

The publication writes that these helicopters were generally conceived as transport helicopters, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine converted them into attack helicopters, hanging missiles. For the same reason, the helicopter does not have the cockpit armor and enhanced pilot protection that real attack helicopters have.

"They also do not have sophisticated guidance systems. The effective use of their missiles is a combination of hope and experience," the report says.

Another problem is a weak jamming system for repelling missile attacks on helicopters. The Mi-8 was equipped with "electronic countermeasures", but they are also outdated. "We don't know if they work at all. But if they work at the 2% level, it's better than nothing," pilot Gennady said.

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The AFU militants are firing HIMARS from a busy road.

They have not even blocked traffic and are covered by civilians standing in traffic. After the shelling, they will leave quickly enough and the retaliatory fire could hit ordinary people.

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⚡️Front summary for the morning of February 18, 2023, ⚡️

Russian troops are trying to conduct offensive operations from the area of Nikolsky dachas in the Uludarsky sector. But their intensity subsided at times. But the artillery pressure on the enemy increased. Under shelling Novopol, Zelenoye Pole, Vremevka, Bolshaya Novosyolka, Prechistovka, Bogoyavlenka, and Ugledar itself. (Fig. 1)

On the Donetsk front, the Russian Armed Forces, with the support of artillery, again went on the attack in the Novomikhailovka area. Also, after the fire impacted on the enemy, assault operations were carried out along the southern and northern outskirts of Marinka. In the second of these areas, we managed to advance. It is already obvious that they decided to encircle the city. Russian artillery fired on Pobeda, Georgievka, Krasnogorovka, Nevelskoye, Pervomaisky, Severny, Avdeevka, and Vesyologo. The Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out strikes on Donetsk and Makiivka. (Fig. 2)

To the south of Bakhmut, the artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit Ozaryanovka and Kurdyumovka. Russian troops worked along Aleksandro-Shultino, Predtechino, Stupochki, Ivanovskoye, and Bakhmut. To the north of it, the Ukrainian army still left Paraskovyivka. Control over this important settlement was established by PMC Wagner. To the north of Soledar, the “orchestras”, supported by artillery, continued their attacks on Fedorovka and Rozdolovka. But so far there has been no success in this direction. Vasyukovka, Vesyoloye, Vyemka, and Controversial are also under fire from the RF Armed Forces. (Fig. 4)

In the Luhansk direction, the RF Armed Forces again tried to attack Belogorovka. A little to the north, from the direction of Dibrova, they attacked towards Zarechny. No promotion. But far to the north, Russian troops managed to establish control over Gryanikovka. This is a village on the left bank of Oskol on the highway leading to the right bank to Dvurechny, an important settlement in terms of logistics. Control over Gryanikovka allows Russian troops to attack in a southerly direction towards Kupyansk, a major stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Admittedly, this is just a prospect. The defensive positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in this area are quite strong. (Fig. 5)


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“Eurocrats are not drug addicts! Charles Michel criticized the "unacceptable" remarks of the Brussels politician": In Brussels, the scandal - the head of the European Council had to stand up for colleagues whom a high-ranking official accused of addiction to cocaine and unwillingness to transfer offices to a disadvantaged area, because "the powder there is not so clean."

“European Council President Charles Michel has criticized Brussels Secretary of State for Urban Planning Pascal Smet for claiming that Eurocrats regularly use drugs. The remarks are "unacceptable," his spokesman, Barend Leiths, said: "President Michel asks that all men and women in the service of the European Union be respected, especially in these very difficult international times." In a private meeting with the European Commission's Infrastructure and Logistics Department in Brussels, Smet said that "many employees of European institutions use drugs." He ridiculed the feigned indignation of European officials who are unhappy with the plans of the European Commission to move several agencies from the EU quarter to the poorer northern district of Brussels with a criminal and drug reputation. During the meeting, Smet hinted that there was a high level of drug use in the EU quarter, and even suggested that cocaine is a popular drug among European officials, stating that "drugs are also sold in the Schuman area ... probably not the ones in the north" cities, "but probably a little whiter." Michel condemned Smet's comments after an open letter from the largest union of European officials, which called for "responding to attacks", and "protecting the reputation, work, and honor of EU officials"

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Tbh, that would explain their erratic behavior. Sniff some powder - "Russian missiles!!!HAH! Let them send two on me!!!" Or they are just plain retarded. Knowing some of them, I tend to agree with assertion no2. But they are masters in behaving like they know everything and we are all morons. Luckily, no more.

❗️ PMC "Wagner" never had and has nothing to do with the Russian army - Prigozhin

The head of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that his organization is a private army.

“ PMC Wagner is a private army that has acted, is operating, and will continue to operate all over the world,” Prigozhin wrote

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Ok, this is written for internal audience. They have every connection with the army. The fact they operate heavy armor, bomber aviation, and lots of artillery is proof of that. Unless he got them from Kinder's surprise.

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Some power struggle is brewing at the top echelons of the Russian command so I wouldn't dare to assume of what sort. I have a few guesses but im 100% sure it's nothing to do with jealousy or fear. If I have more info, I will gladly share here .

❗️ Russian artillery works on Ukrainian positions near Bakhmut

Artillerymen destroy enemy firing positions in the Bakhmut direction with precise strikes.


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🇵🇱Polish President Andrzej Duda announced that his country is considering transferring MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, which does not require the approval of allies in the West and does not require special training of Ukrainian pilots who are already qualified to operate them.

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A few days ago, they said they won't because they don't have them to spare...we will see...

Ivan Fedrov, the mayor of Melitopol, has reported that significant forces of the Wagner Cheka have moved to Zaporozhye

According to his information, 43 buses with the Wagnerians passed through Melitopol. They were accompanied by off-road vehicles with "Wagnerian" symbols. Fedrov posted a video of the buses on his Telegram channel.

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At the moment, there are no signs that Russia will make a big offensive by the anniversary of the invasion, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a commentary to the Financial Times.

According to him, now there is not such a large concentration of Russian troops near the Ukrainian borders as a year ago.

"Russia still has significant forces at its disposal. But as we found out, when they collect them, they break them ... It's hard for them," Wallace said.

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🇷🇺🇺🇦 Russian fighters of the Southern Military District in the fighting for the town of Marinka.


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⚡️ EU and US sanctions against Russia begin drafting two months before the special operation

EU and US sanctions against Russia in case of conflict in Ukraine started to be developed two months before the special operation, in December 2021 - Ursula von der Leyen.

Von der Leyen advocated a comprehensive increase in pressure on Russia and an expansion of arms and ammunition supplies to Ukraine, for the mass production of which she suggested mobilizing European industry

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